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J.  PIERPONT  MORGAN  PUBLICATION  FUND 


REPORTS  OF  THE 


PRINCETON  UNIVERSITY  EXPEDITIONS 

TO  PATAGONIA,  1896-1899 


J.  B.  HATCHER 

IN   CHARGE 


EDITED    BY 

WILLIAM  B.  SCOTT 

BLAIR    PROFESSOR    OF   GEOLOGY    AND   PALAEONTOLOGY,    PRINCETON    UNIVERSITY 


VOLUME  II,    i 
ZOOLOGY 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 
THE  UNIVERSITY 

STUTTGART 

SCHWEIZERBART'SCHE  VERLAGSHANDLUNG  (E.  NAGELE) 

1904-27 


J.  PIERPONT  MORGAN  PUBLICATION  FUND 

REPORTS  OF  THE 

PRINCETON  UNIVERSITY  EXPEDITIONS  TO  PATAGONIA 

1896-1899 


VOLUME  II. 


ORNITHOLOGY 


BY 


WILLIAM  EARL  DODGE  SCOTT  ASSOCIATED  WITH  R.  BOWDLER  SHARPE 

PRINCETON   UNIVERSITY  BRITISH   MUSEUM   NATURAL  HISTORY 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 
THE  UNIVERSITY 

STUTTGART 

SCHWEIZERBART'SCHE  VERLAGSHANDLUNG  (E.  NAGELE) 

1904-15 


LANCASTER  PRESS,  INC. 
LANCASTER,  PA. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS,  VOL.  II 


Page 

Class  AVES    .....  l 

Subclass  RATIT&  .         .  i 

Order  RHEIFORMES                                             .  i 

Family  RHEID^E  ....  i 

Genus  Rhea           ....  I 

Subclass  CARINATM      .         .  16 

Order  TINAMIFORMES  .                                                                           .  16 

Family  TINAMIOE 16 

Subfamily  TINAMIN&   ...  16 

Genus  Rhynchotus  .......  17 

Genus  Nothura        ......  20 

Subfamily  TINAMOTWINM 28 

Genus  Calopezus     ......  28 

Genus  Tinamotis     ........  31 

Order  COLUMBIFORMES         .         .                   .                            ...  32 

Suborder  COLUMBM           ....                   .                    .  33 

Family  COLUMBIM:       .....  33 

Subfamily  COLUMBINES, 33 

Genus  Columba         ......  33 

Family  PERISTERUXE     .........  39 

Subfamily  ZEN  AIDING. 39 

Genus  Zenaida          ........  39 

Order  RALLIFORMES      .                   .                            43 

Family  RALLID^;          .........  43 

Subfamily  RALLINM      .........  43 

Genus  Rallus .........  43 

Genus  Limnopardalis       ....  46 

Genus  Ortygops       ....  48 

Subfamily  FULICIN^E 5° 

Genus  Fulica.         ....  5° 

Order  PODICIPEDIDIFORMES                          .                            ...  58 

Family  PODICIPEDID/E  ........  58 

Genus  Podicipes    ......  58 

Genus  ^Echmophorus      ......  73 

Genus  Podilymbus          .........  78 


VI  CONTENTS 

Order  SPHENISCIFORMES 85 

Family  SPHENISCID^:    ..........  85 

Genus  Aptenodytes          .........  85 

Genus  Pygoscelis  .          .                   .......  91 

Genus  Catarrhactes         .........  96 

Genus  Spheniscus ..........  106 

Order  PROCELLARIIFORMES  ....  .114 

Family  PROCELLARIID^E        .........114 

Subfamily  OCEANITIN&         .      '  .         .         .         ,         .         .         .  114 

Genus  Oceanites      .          .          .          .          .          .         .          .         .  114 

Genus  Garrodia       .          .                   ......  117 

Genus  Fregetta        .........  122 

Family  PUFFINIOE 128 

Subfamily  PUFFINM 128 

Genus  Puffinus        .........  128 

Genus  Priofinus      .         .         .          .          .          .          .          .          .  133 

Genus  Thalassceca  .          .          .         .          .          .          .          .          .  136 

Genus  Priocella       ........  138 

Genus  Majaqueus    .........  142 

Genus  Pagodroma   .          .         .          .          .          ,          .         ,          .  144 

Subfamily  FULMARIN^E 147 

Genus  Ossifraga      .          .          .         .          .         ,          .          .          .  147 

Genus  Daption        .........  150 

Genus  Halobana      .........  153 

Genus  Prion  ..........  157 

Family  PELECANOIM: .  160 

Genus  Pelecanoides         .         .         .         .         .         .          .          .          .  160 

Family  DIOMEDEID/E    ..........  165 

Genus  Diomedea    ..........  165 

Genus  Ph&betria   ..........  174 

Order  LARI FORMES        ....  176 

Family  LARID^E  ..........  176 

Subfamily  STERNIN&    ........  176 

Genus  Gelochelidon .          .         .         .         .         .         .          .  176 

Genus  Sterna.          .........  180 

Subfamily  RHYNCHOPIN^E 193 

Genus  Rhynchops    .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .          .  193 

Subfamily  LARINM        .........  198 

Genus  Larus  .......  198 

Genus  Leucophceus  .         .  222 


CONTENTS  Vll 

Family  STERCORARIID^; 226 

Genus  Megalestris.          .........  226 

Order  CHARADRIIFORMES 234 

Suborder  CHIONIDES 234 

Family  CHIONIDID^E 234 

Genus  Chionis         .........  234 

Suborder  ATTAGIDES       .         .                            239 

Family  THINOCORYTHID^; 239 

Genus  Attagis          .........  239 

Genus  Thinocorys    .........  245 

Suborder  CHARADRII       .         .                  253 

Family  CHARADRIID^; 253 

Subfamily  ARENARIIN^E 253 

Genus  Arenaria      . .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  253 

Subfamily  H&MATOPODIN&     .......  265 

Genus  Hamatopus    ........  265 

Subfamily  LOBIVANELLIN^E 274 

Genus  Oreophilus      ........  274 

Subfamily  CHARADRIINM 278 

Genus  Belanopterus  .         .         .         .       •  .         .         .         .  278 

Genus  Zonibyx          ........  285 

Genus  JEgialiiis        ........  292 

Genus  Pluvianellus   ........  297 

•  Subfamily  TOTANINM 300 

Genus  Numenius       ........  300 

Genus  Limosa  .........  304 

Genus  Totanus          .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  309 

Subfamily  SCOLOPACIN&          .......  316 

Genus  Calidris          .          .          .         .          .          .          ...  316 

Genus  Heteropygia    ........  320 

Genus  Ancylochilus  ........  330 

Genus  Gallinago        ........  332 

Genus  Rostratula       .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .341 

Subfamily  PHALAROPODIN&    .......  345 

Genus  Steganopus     ........  345 

Order  ARDEIFORMES 349 

Suborder  PLATALEM        .         .                  349 

Family  IBIDID/E    ..........  349 

Genus  Therislicus    .........  349 

Genus  Plegadis       .........  355 


viii  CONTENTS 

Family  PLATALEID.E 361 

Genus  Ajaja  .......  361 

Suborder  CICONIM    .  .  .         .  366 

Family  Cicomnxfi         .  .         .  366 

Subfamily  TANTALIN&   ....  ...  366 

Genus  Tantalus         ...  .          .  .  366 

Subfamily  CICONIINM 370 

Genus  Euxenura       ...  .  .  370 

Suborder  ARDEM       ...  .  .  .  375 

Family  ARDEID^E 375 

Genus  Ardea  ..........  375 

Genus  Herodias       .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  379 

Genus  Florida         .........  382 

Genus  Nycticorax    .........  387 

Genus  Butorides      .         .          .          ...          .          .          .          .  395 

Genus  Ardetta         .         .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .  399 

Order  PHCENICOPTERIFORMES     .  403 

Family  PHCENICOPTERID^E     .........  403 

Genus  Phcenicopterus      .........  403 

Order  ANSERIFORMES  ...  .407 

Family  ANATID^E          ..........  407 

Subfamily  CYGNIN&      .........  407 

Genus  Cygnus         .........  407 

Genus  Coscoroba     .........  413 

Subfamily  CHENONETTINM    .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  416 

Genus  Chloephaga  .........  416 

Subfamily  ANATIN&     .........  443 

Genus  Anas  ..........  443 

Genus  Mareca         .........  450 

Genus  Nettium        .........  456 

Genus  Dafila .          .        • .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .  459 

Genus  Pcecilonetta  .........  464 

Genus  Querquedula.          ........  468 

Genus  Spatula        .........  477 

Subfamily  FULIGULIN^E         ........  482 

Genus  Metopiana    .........  482 

Genus  Tachyeres     .........  487 

Subfamily  ERISMATURINM     ........  500 

Genus  Erismatura  .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .501 


CONTENTS  IX 

Order  PELECANIFORMES       .         .                                     ....  505 

Family  PHALACROCORACID^E 505 

Genus  Phalacrocorax      .........  505 

Order  CATHARTIDIFORMES .                                     .         .  525 

Family  CATHARTICS 525 

Genus  Vultur        .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  525 

Genus  Coragyps    .......  54° 

Genus  Cathartes    ..........  546 

Order  ACCIPITRIFORMES      .                            555 

Family  FALCONID^; 555 

Subfamily  POLYBORINM 555 

Genus  Polyborus     .........  555 

Genus  Ibycter          ........  566 

Genus  Milvago        ........  582 

Subfamily  ACCIPITRIN^E 588 

Genus  Circus.         .........  588 

Genus  Accipiter      .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  605 

Subfamily  B  UTEONIN& 609 

Genus  Heterospizias          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          •  610 

Genus  Tachytriorchis        .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .616 

Genus  Buteo  ..........  622 

Genus  Harpyhaliatus       ........  652 

Subfamily  AQUILINM 654 

'Genus  Falco  ..........  655 

Genus  Cerchneis      ........  666 

Order  STRIGI FORMES    .                   673 

Family  STRIGIDS         ....  673 

Genus  Asia  ........  673 

Genus  Btibo 683 

Genus  Strix 692 

Genus  Speotyto      .....  696 

Genus  Glaucidium          ......  7°7 

Family  TYTONIDS        ....  712 

Genus  Tyto 7" 

Order  PSITTACIFORMES                  ....  7*9 

Family  PSITTACID.E        ...  7r9 

Subfamily  ARIN^E  ....  7^9 

Genus  Cyanoliseus    .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .  7J9 

Genus  Microsittace    ........  722 


CONTENTS 

Suborder  HALCYONES      ....                   ....  724 

Family  ALCEDINID.E 724 

Subfamily  ALCEDININM 724 

Genus  Ceryle    .........  725 

Suborder  CAPRIMULGI     .                  726 

Family  CAPRIMULGID.E  .........  726 

Subfamily  CAPRIMULGIN& 726 

Genus  Stenopsis        ........  726 

Suborder  TROCHILI  .         .                                              ....  727 

Family  TROCHILID/E      .........  727 

Genus  Eustephanus          ........  728 

Genus  Patagona      .........  730 

Suborder  PICI   ...........  733 

Family  PICID^E      ..........  733 

Subfamily  PICIN& 733 

Genus  Colaptes         ........  733 

Genus  Dryobates                 .......  737 

Genus  Ipocrantor      ........  738 

Order  PASSERIFORMES .         ....                   .  742 

Suborder  MESOMYODI 742 

Division  TRACHEOPHON/E                  ...                   .  743 

Family  PTEROPTOCHID^; 743 

Genus  Scytalopus      ........  743 

Genus  Scelorchilus    ........  746 

Genus  Rhinocrypta    ........  747 

Genus  Teledromas     ........  749 

Genus  Hylactes          ........  750 

Family  DENDROCOLAPTID^E       .......  753 

Subfamily  FURNARIIN& 753 

Genus  Geositta  ........  753 

Genus  Upucerthia       ....                   .  758 

Genus  Cinclodes          .......  760 

Genus  Enicornis         .          .                   ....  765 

Subfamily  SYNALLAXIN& 767 

Genus  Aphrastura       .......  767 

Genus  Sylviorthorhynchus    ......  769 

Genus  Phlosocryptes    .......  770 

Genus  Leptasthenura  .......  772 

Genus  Siptornis          .......  773 


CONTENTS  XI 

Subfamily  PHILYDORIN& 779 

Genus  Anumbius        .         .                  .         .                   .  780 

Genus  Pseudoseisura  .         .                  ....  780 

Subfamily  MARGARORNITHIN& 782 

Genus  Pygarrhicus     .......  782 

Division  OLIGOMYODyE 783 

Family  TYRANNHXE 783 

Genus  Agriornis       ........  784 

Genus  Myiotheretes  ........  786 

Genus  Tcenioptera     ........  787 

Genus  Phaotriccus    .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .791 

Genus  Knipolegus     .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .  792 

Genus  Lichenops       ....                   ...  793 

Genus  Muscisaxicola          .......  794 

Genus  Lessonia         ........  798 

Genus  Myiosympotes          .         .         .         .         .         .         .  800 

Genus  Stigmatum     ........  800 

Genus  Serpophaga    .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .801 

Genus  Anairetes        ........  802 

Genus  Tachuris         ........  805 

Genus  Elanea  .........  807 

Genus  Pyrocephalus .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  810 

Family  PHYTOTOMID^E 811 

Genus  Phytotoma      .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .811 

PASSERES  NORMALES 812 

Family  HIRUNDINID^;      ........  813 

Subfamily  HIRUNDININM.         .         .         .         .         .         .  813 

Genus  Iridoprocne    .          .         .         .         .         .         .         .  813 

Genus  Prague .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  816 

Genus  Pygochelidon  .          .         .         .          .         .         .          .  816 

Family  TROGLODYinxE  .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .  818 

Genus  Troglodytes     .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  818 

Genus  Cistothorus    .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  819 

Family  MIMID^E 820 

Genus  Mimus .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  820 

Family  TURDID.E 823 

Genus  Turdus .......                  .  823 

Family  MOTACILLID^E 827 

Genus  Anthus.         .         .         .         ...         .         .         .  827 


xii  CONTENTS 

Family  FRINGILLHXE 830 

Genus  Spinus        ..........  830 

Genus  Sicalis        ..........  832 

Genus  Brachyspiza         .........  834 

Genus  Embernagra         .....                   ...  836 

Genus  Phrygilus    ..........  836 

Genus  Diuca         ..........  845 

Genus  Gubernatrix         .........  847 

Genus  Passer  ..........  848 

Family  ICTERID^E        ..........  848 

Genus  Molothrus  ..........  848 

Genus  Agelaius     ..........  850 

Genus  Trupialis   ..........  851 

Genus  Notiopsar   ..........  854 

POSTSCRIPT  856 

DATES  OF  PUBLICATION  OF  THE  PARTS  OF  VOLUME  II 

The  dates  of  issue  as  printed  on  the  inside  of  the  covers  of  the  various  parts  are  approxi- 
mations made  in  advance  and  in  each  case  antedate  by  a  few  days  the  time  of  actual  issue  to 
the  subscribers.  These  dates  should  therefore  be  corrected  as  follows: 

Pp.  1-112,  published  August  3,  1904 
Pp.  113-344,  published  March  n,  1910 
PP-  345-504.  published  April  i,  1912 
Pp-  505-718,  published  July  8,  1915 
Pp.  719-857,  published  February  15,  1928 


J.   PIERPONT    iMORGAN    PUBLICATION    FUND 

Reports  of 

!  Princeton  University  Expeditions 
to  Patagonia,  1896-1899 


J.   B.  HATCHER   IN  CHARGE 


EDITED    BY 

WILLIAM    B.  SCOTT 

BLAIR    PROFESSOR    OF    GEOLOGY    AND    PALAEONTOLOGY,    PRINCETON    UNIVERSITY 


VOLUME   II 

ORNITHOLOGY 

PART    I. 
RHEID^,— SPHENISCID^ 

LY 

AM    EARL    DODGE    SCOTT     ASSOCIATED  WITH     R.    BOWDLER    SHARPE 

PRINCETON    UNIVERSITY  BRITISH    MUSEUM    OF    NATURAL    HISTORY 

(Pp.    I-I12) 


PRINCETON,    N.   J. 
THE  UNIVERSITY 

STUTTGART 

E.  SCHWEIZERBART'SCHE  VERLAGSHANDLUNG  (E.  NAGELE) 

1904 


,/u/i/  28,   I'm'/. 


Class  AVES. 
Subclass  RATIT^E. 

*• 

Struthiones,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  II.  p.  662,  Ordo  VI.  (1790). 

Ratitce,  Merrem,  Abhandl.  Akad.  Wissensch.  Berlin,  1812-13,  Physik.  Kl. 

p.  259. 

Cursores,  part,  Illig.  Prodr.  p.  246  (1811). 
Proceri  (familia),  Illig.  Prodr.  p.  246  (1811). 
Megistanes  (familia),  Vieill.  Analyse,  p.  53  (1816). 
Brevipenes  (familia),  Cuv.  Regn.  An.  I.  p.  459  (1817). 
Proceres,  Sundev.  Meth.  nat.  Av.  disp.  Tent.  p.  151  (1872). 
Struthionifonnes,  Seebohm,  Classif.  Bds.  p.  44  (1890). 
Ratitee,   Sharpe,  Classif.  Bds.  p.   67  (1891);  id.   Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  i 

(1899). 
Palceognathce,  Pycraft,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.    xv.    pp.    149-290,   pis.  Ixii-lv 

(1900).. 

Order   RHEIFORMES. 

Sharpe,  Classif.  Birds,  p.  67  (1891) ;  id.  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  i  (1899). 

Family    RHEID.E. 

Salvadori,  Cat.  Birds,  Brit.  Mus.  XXVII.  p!  570  (1895)  ;  Sharpe,  Hand- 
List  Bds.  p.  i  (1899). 

Genus   RHEA  Latham. 

Type. 

Rhea,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.,  i.  p.  665,  gen.  Ixiii.  (1790)  ;  Bonn. 
Enc.  Meth.  i.  Introd.  p.  xcii  (1790)  ;  Salvadori,  Cat. 
Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  xxvii.  p.  577  (1896) ;  Sharpe,  Hand- 
List  Bds.  I,  p.  i  (1899) R.  americana. 

(i) 


354 G36 


!,-?*  -: 


2  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 

Tonjou,  Lacepede,  Mem.  Inst.  iii.  p.  519,  gen.  128  (1801) 

(=  Rhea,  Lath.). 

Tuj^ls,  Rafinesque,  Analyse,  p.  70  (1815). 
Pterocnemia,  G.  R.  Gr.   Hand-list,  iii.  p.  2,  subgen.  2460 

(1871) R.  darwini. 

Pterocnemys,  Sclat.  &   Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.   Neotrop.  p. 

154  (1873)  (  =  Pterocnemia,  Gr.). 

Geographical  Range.  —  Confined  to  South  America. 


RHEA  AMERICANA  (Linnaeus). 

Nhandu-gnacu  brasiliensibus,  Marcgr.  Hist.  Nat.  Bras.  p.  190  (1648). 

Struthio  camelus  americanus,  Ray  Syn.  Av.  p.  36  (1713). 

Struthio  americanus,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  155  (1758). 

Rhea,  Briss.  Orn.  V.  p.  8  (1760). 

Struthio  rhea,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  266  ( 1 766) ;  Molino,  Sagg.  St.  Nat. 
Chil.  p.  232  (1782  :  pt). 

Touyou,  Buff.  Hist.  Nat.  Ois.  I.  p.  452  (1770). 

Rhea  americana,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  II.  p.  665  (1790);  Drap.  Diet.  Class 
d'Hist.  Nat.  XIV.  p.  449  (1828);  Darw.  P.  Z.  S.  1837,  P-  36  (south 
of  Rio  Negro);  Gould,  Voy.  "Beagle,"  Birds,  p.  120  (1841:  La 
Plata);  Darwin,  t.  c.  p.  121  note;  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  527  (1844); 
Burm.  J.  f.  O.  1860,  p.  260  (Mendoza) ;  id.  La  Plata  Reis  II.  p. 
500  (1861);  Scl.  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  IV.  p.  355,  pi.  LXVIII  (1862); 
Booking,  Archiv  fur  Naturg.  XXIX.  p.  213  (1863);  Cunningh.  Ibis, 
1868,  p.  126  (Patagonia)  ;  Sternb.  J.  f.  O.  1869,  p.  275  (Buenos 
Ayres) ;  Holtz,  op.  cit.  1870,  p.  24  (egg);  Gray,  Handl.  B.  III.  p.  i, 
no.  9842  (1871);  Cunningh.  P.  Z.  S.  1871,  pp.  105-110,  pis.  VI, 
VIA  (osteology);  Huds.  P.  Z.  S.  1872,  p.  535  (Patagonia);  Sper- 
ling, Ibis,  1872,  p.  78;  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotrop.  p.  154 
(1873);  Garrod,  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  pp.  470,  644  (anatomy);  Harting, 
Ostriches  and  Ostr.  Farm.  pp.  55-84  cum  tab.  (1877);  Beerbohm, 
Wanderings  in  Patagonia,  p.  52  (1879);  id.  Ibis,  1879,  p.  386; 
Schmidt,  P.  Z.  S.  1880,  p.  315  (duration  of  life) ;  Gibson,  Ibis,  1880, 
p.  167  (Cape  San  Antonio,  Buenos  Ayres);  Durnf.  t.  c.  p.  414 
(Buenos  Ayres);  Forbes,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  784  (anatomy);  Doer- 


AVES RHEID^E.  3 

ing,  Expl.  al  Rio  Negro,  Zool.  Aves  p.  58  (1881)  ;  Gibson,  Ibis, 
1885,  p.  283  (Uruguay);  Gadow,  P.  Z.  S.  1885,  pp.  308-322  (an- 
atomy) ;  Beddard,  t.  c.  p.  389  (anatomy) ;  Scl.  &  Huds.  Arg.  Orn. 
II.  p.  216  (1889);  Oust.  Miss.  Scient.  Cap  Horn,  Ois.,  p.  B.  323 
(1891);  Evans,  Ibis,  1891,  p.  85  (incubation);  Graham  Kerr,  Ibis 
1892,  p.  151  (Gran  Chaco,  Rio  Pilcomayo) ;  Holland,  t.  c.  p.  214 
(Estancia  Espartilla,  Buenos  Ayres) ;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1892,  p.  472  (in 
confinement);  Aplin,  Ibis,  1894,  p.  214  (Uruguay);  Salvad.  Cat.  B. 
Brit.  Mus.  XXVII.  p.  578  (1895);  Sharpe,  Hand-list  B.  I.  p.  i 
(1899);  Carbajal,  La  Patagonia,  Part  II. -p.  250  (1900);  Pycraft, 
Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  XV.  pp.  154,  155,  fig.  D  (1900);  Gates,  Cat.  Bds. 
Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.,  I.  p.  i  (1901) ;  Mitchell,  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  (2)  VIII. 
p.  182  (1901  :  Intestinal  tract) ;  De  Guerne,  C.  R.  Congr.  Orn.  III.  pp. 
52-61  (1901);  Pycraft,  Journ.  Linn.  Soc.  Zool.  XXVIII.  pi.  31,  fig. 
2  (1901)  ;  Fothergill,  Avicult.  Mag.  VIII.  p.  127,  pi.  E  (1902). 

American  Rhea,  Lath.  Syn.  Suppl.  II.  p.  292,  pi.  137  (1801). 

Ckuri  Nandu  Avestruz,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  89  (1805). 

Rhea  rhea,  Illig.  Prodr.  p.  247  (1811). 

Autruche  d'  Amerique,  d'Ambournay,  Prec.  anal,  des  Trav.  de  1'Acad. 
roy  de  Rouen  VI.  pp.  142-144  (1819). 

Rhea  nandu,  Less.  Man.  d'Orn.  II.  p.  208  (1828). 

Rhea  albescens,  Arrib.  &  Holmb.,  El  Natural.  Argent.  I.  pp.  1-4  (1878: 
Carhue,  Buenos  Ayres). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. —Adult  male.  FlG-  '• 

Total  length,  about  52  inches. 
Bill  from  gape,  4.5  inches. 
Tarsus,  11-12  inches. 
Color. — General  color  gray. 
Head  :   Blackish  or  dusky  above. 
Neck:   Grayish    white,   the    feathers 
having  black  shafts.     A  black  or  dusky 

band    along   the    nape,   which   becomes     Rhea  americana.    Profile.    ^  natural  size. 

a  broad  patch  between  the  shoulders. 

The  under  part  of  the  basal  portion  of  the  neck  is  dusky  or  black,  from 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 


which  area  proceed  two  lateral  crescents  of  like  color,  one  on  either  side 
of  the  breast. 

Wings  :  Short  and  imperfect. 

Secondaries  brown  on  the  apical  part,  some  of  the  inner  ones  partly 
and  others,  a  few  generally,  wholly  white. 
Tail  not  apparent.     Rump  whitish. 
Lower  parts  in  general,  whitish. 

Legs:    Feathered  portion  whitish.     Feet  and  unfeathered  portion  yel- 
lowish horn  brown,  darkest  on  the  tarsus. 

Metatarsus  with  transverse  scutes  throughout  entire  length.     (See  fig.  2.) 
Bill  :  Yellow  horn  brown.     Iris :  Dark  hazel  brown. 

Adult  female  paler  in  color  than  male. 
Geographical  Range.  —  From  central   Brazil,  south- 
ward throughout  Argentina. 


FIG.  2. 


The  collection  made  by  Mr.  Hatcher  did  not  include 
individuals  of  this  species,  but  he  tells  me  that  the  birds 
were  met  with  a  number  of  times,  that  some  were  pre- 
served and  afterward  destroyed  by  vermin  while  in 
storage  awaiting  shipment. 

So  far  as  known  the  habits  of  Rhea  americana  are 
not  to  be  distinguished  from  its  near  ally,  Rhea  dar- 
wini, Gould. 

It  seems  probable  that  Rhea  americana  occurs  spar- 
ingly and  locally  throughout  Patagonia,  where  it  is 
replaced  by  the  more  common  Rhea  darwini. 

Darwin  in    the  account  of  his  travels  in  Southern 
South  America  dwelt  so  fully  on  the  habits  and  modes 
of  life  of  the  Rhea  and  its  close  ally,  R.  darwini  that  extracts  are  here 
appended  as  follows: 

"The  bird  is  well  known  to  abound  on  the  plains  of  La  Plata.  To  the 
north  it  is  found  according  to  Azara,  in  Paraguay,  where,  however,  it  is 
not  common ;  to  the  south  its  limit  appears  to  be  from  42°  to  43°.  It 
has  not  crossed  the  Cordillera ;  but  I  have  seen  it  within  the  first  range 
of  mountains  on  the  Uspallata  plain,  elevated  between  six  and  seven 


Lower  leg  of  Rhea 
americana,  showing 
feathering  and  scute 
pattern.  \  natural 
size. 


AVES RHEID^E.  5 

thousand  feet.  The  ordinary  habits  of  the  ostrich  are  well  known.  They 
feed  on  vegetable  matter,  such  as  roots  and  grass ;  but  at  Bahia  Blanca  I 
have  repeatedly  seen  three  or  four  come  down  at  low  water  to  the  exten- 
sive mud-banks  which  are  then  dry,  for  the  sake,  as  the  Gauchos  say,  of 
catching  small  fish.  Although  the  ostrich  in  its  habits  is  so  shy,  wary  and 
solitary,  and  although  so  fleet  in  its  pace,  it  falls  a  prey,  without  much 
difficulty  to  the  Indian  or  Gaucho  armed  with  the  bolas.  When  several 
horsemen  appear  in  a  semicircle,  it  becomes  confounded,  and  does  not 
know  which  way  to  escape.  They  generally  prefer  running  against  the 
wind ;  yet  at  the  first  start  they  expand  their  wings,  and  like  a  vessel 
make  all  sail.  On  one  fine  hot  day  I  saw  several  ostriches  enter  a  bed 
of  tall  rushes,  where  they  squatted  concealed,  till  quite  closely  approached. 
It  is  not  generally  known  that  ostriches  readily  take  to  the  water.  Mr. 
King  informs  me  that  in  Patagonia,  at  the  Bay  of  San  Bias  and  at  Port 
Valdes,  he  saw  these  swimming  several  times  from  island  to  island. 
They  ran  into  the  water,  both  when  driven  down  to  a  point,  and  likewise 
of  their  own  accord,  when  not  frightened ;  the  distance  crossed  was  about 
200  yards.  When  swimming,  very  little  of  their  bodies  appear  above 
water,  and  their  necks  are  extended  a  little  forward  ;  their  progress  is 
slow.  On  two  occasions,  I  saw  some  ostriches  swimming  across  the 
Santa  Cruz  river,  where  it  was  about  four  hundred  yards  wide,  and  the 
stream  rapid.  Capt.  Sturt  (Sturt's  'Travels,'  vol.  ii,  p.  74),  when  descending 
the  Merrumbedgee,  in  Australia,  saw  two  emus  in  the  act  of  swimming." 
"The  inhabitants  who  live  in  the  country  readily  distinguish,  even  at 
a  distance,  the  male  bird  from  the  female.  The  former  is  larger  and 
darker  coloured,  and  has  a  larger  head.  The  ostrich,  I  believe  the  cock, 
emits  a  singular,  deep-toned,  hissing  note.  When  first  I  heard  it,  stand- 
ing in  the  midst  of  some  sand-hillocks,  I  thought  it  was  made  by  some 
wild  beast,  for  it  is  a  sound  that  one  cannot  tell  whence  it  comes,  or  from 
how  far  distant.  When  we  were  at  Bahia  Blanca  in  the  months  of 
September  and  October,  the  eggs  were  found  in  extraordinary  numbers, 
all  over  the  country.  They  either  lie  scattered  single,  in  which  case  they 
are  never  hatched,  and  are  called  by  the  Spaniards,  huachos,  or  they  are 
collected  together  into  a  shallow  excavation,  which  forms  the  nest.  Out 
of  the  four  nests,  which  I  saw,  three  contained  twenty-two  eggs  each,  and 
the  fourth  twenty-seven.  In  one  day's  hunting  on  horseback  sixty-four 
eggs  were  found ;  forty-four  of  these  were  in  two  nests,  and  the  remain- 


6  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

ing  twenty  scattered  huachos.  The  Gauchos  unanimously  affirm,  and 
there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  their  statement,  that  the  male  bird  alone 
hatches  the  eggs,  and  for  some  time  after  accompanies  the  young.  The 
cock  when  on  the  nest  lies  very  close ;  I  have  myself  almost  ridden  over 
one.  It  is  asserted  that  at  such  times  they  are  occasionally  fierce,  and 
even  dangerous,  and  that  they  have  been  known  to  attack  a  man  on 
horseback,  trying  to  kick  and  leap  on  him.  My  informer  pointed  out  to 
me  an  old  man,  whom  he  had  seen  much  terrified  by  one  chasing  him.  I 
observe,  in  Burchell's  travels  in  South  Africa  (Burchell's  Travels,  Vol.  I, 
p.  280),  that  he  remarks,  'having  killed  a  male  ostrich,  and  the  feathers 
being  dirty,  it  was  said  by  the  Hottentots  to  be  a  nest  bird.'  I  under- 
stand that  the  male  emu,  in  the  Zoological  Gardens,  takes  care  of  the 
nest ;  this  habit  therefore  is  common  to  the  family. 

"The  Gauchos  unanimously  affirm  that  several  females  lay  in  one  nest. 
I  have  been  positively  told  that  four  or  five  hen  birds  have  been  actually 
watched  and  seen  to  go,  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  one  after  the  other,  to 
the  same  nest.  I  may  add,  also,  that  it  is  believed  in  Africa,  that  two  or 
more  females  lay  in  one  nest.  Although  this  habit  at  first  appears  very 
strange,  I  think  the  cause  may  be  explained  in  a  simple  manner.  The 
number  of  eggs  in  the  nest  varies  from  twenty  to  forty,  and  even  to  fifty ; 
and  according  to  Azara  to  seventy  or  eighty.  Now  although  it  is  most 
probable,  from  the  number  of  eggs  found  in  one  district  being  so  extra- 
ordinarily great,  in  proportion  to  that  of  the  parent  birds,  and  likewise 
from  the  state  of  the  ovarium  of  the  hen,  that  she  may  in  the  course  of  the 
season  lay  a  large  number,  yet  the  time  required  must  be  very  long. 
Azara  states  (Vol.  IV,  p.  173)  that  a  female  in  a  state  of  domestication 
laid  seventeen  eggs,  each  at  the  interval  of  three  days  one  from  another. 
If  the  hen  were  obliged  to  hatch  her  own  eggs,  before  the  last  was  laid,  the 
first  probably  would  be  addled  ;  but  if  each  laid  a  few  eggs  at  successive 
periods,  in  different  nests,  and  several  hens,  as  is  stated  to  be  the  case, 
combined  together,  then  the  eggs  in  one  collection  would  be  nearly  of  the 
same  age.  If  the  number  of  eggs  in  one  of  these  nests  is,  as  I  believe, 
not  greater  on  an  average  than  the  number  laid  by  one  female  in  a  season, 
then  there  must  be  as  many  nests  as  females,  and  each  cock  bird  will  have 
its  fair  share  of  the  labour  of  incubation  ;  and  this  during  a  period  when  the 
females  probably  could  not  sit,  on  account  of  not  having  finished  laying. 
Lichtenstein,  however  ("Travels,"  Vol.  II,  p.  25),  states  that  the  hens 


AVES RHEID/E. 


begin  to  set  when  ten  or  twelve  eggs  are  laid,  and  that  they  afterwards 
continue  laying.  He  affirms  that  by  day  the  hens  take  turns  in  setting, 
but  that  the  cock  sits  all  night." 

"I  have  before  mentioned  the  great  number  of  huachos,  or  scattered 
eggs,  so  that  in  one  day's  hunting  the  third  part  found  were  in  this  state. 
It  appears  odd  that  so  many  should  be  wasted.  Does  it  not  arise  from 
some  difficulty  in  several  females  associating  together,  and  in  finding  a 
male  ready  to  undertake  the  office  of  incubation  ?  It  is  evident  that  there 
must  at  first  be  some  degree  of  association  between  at  least  two  females ; 
otherwise  the  eggs  would  remain  scattered  at  distances  far  too  great  to 
allow  of  the  male  collecting  them  into  one  nest.  Some  authors  believe 
that  the  scattered  eggs  are  deposited  for  the  young  birds  to  feed  on. 
This  can  hardly  be  the  case  in  America,  because  the  huachos,  although 
often  found  addled  and  putrid,  are  generally  whole."  (Darwin,  "Voyage 
of  H.  M.  S.  Beagle,"  Birds,  p.  120-123.  1841.) 

Major  H.  Fothergill  (Avicult.  Mag.  VIII.  p.  127)  writes:  "My  experi- 
ence with  these  birds,  during  many  years,  is  as  follows :  The  hen  lays  her 
eggs  promiscuously  about  the  field,  and  her  mate  with  his  beak  collects 
them  into  a  hollow,  which  he  scoops  out  in  the  ground.  He  then  sits  and 
hatches  out  the  young  birds  in  42  days.  The  female  has  nothing  further 
to  do  with  the  matter,  and,  in  fact,  is  apt  to  tease  her  mate  and  cause 
trouble  if  not  removed  into  another  field.  The  male  Rhea  becomes  ex- 
ceedingly savage  and  dangerous  during  the  breeding  season,  and,  at  that 
time  of  the  year,  makes  a  loud,  booming  sound,  which  I  have  heard  quite 
a  mile  away.  The  female  makes  no  sound  whatever. 

"  I  have  had  an  interesting  experience  with  my  pair  of  old  Rheas.  The 
female  laid  twenty-three  eggs,  some  of  them  many  weeks  after  the  male 
had  commenced  to  sit.  After  sitting  the  usual  six  weeks  he  hatched  out 
six  strong  little  birds  and  left  the  nest  with  these.  I  took  nine  eggs  which 
remained  in  the  nest  and  placed  them  under  large  barn-door  fowls,  one  of 
which  hatched  out  two  young  Rheas  shortly  afterwards.  On  the  appear- 
ance of  these  strange  youngsters,  when  the  eggs  burst  open  in  two  halves 
with  a  slight  explosion,  the  hen  immediately  rushed  away  with  a  cry  of 
terror,  leaving  the  chicks  to  their  fate.  I  thereupon  wrapped  them  in 
flannel  until  the  evening  when  they  were  put  under  the  male  Rhea,  who 
took  to  them  all  right." 


8  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

RHEA  DARWINI  Gould. 

Emu  near  to  the  Strait  of  Magellan,  Dobrizhoffer,  Account  of  the  Albi- 

pones  (Engl.  transl.)  I.  p.  314  (1784). 
Troisieme  espece  d'Autruche,  d'Orb.  Bull.  Soc.  Nat.  XIX.  p.  221  (1829); 

id.  Ann.  Soc.  Nat.  XXI.  Revue  Bibliogr.  p.  16  (1830). 
Ilhui  of  the  Patagonians,  d'Orb.  11.  cc. 
Cosquella  of  the  Pampas,  d'Orb.  11.  cc. 
Rhea  n.  sp.  Darwin  Letters,  p.   16  (1834)   [teste  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p. 


Rhea  pennata,  d'Orb.  Voy.  Amer.  Merid.  Itin.  II.  pp.  67  194  212,  303 
note  (1835-1838:  descr.  nulla)  ;  id.  Archiv  fur  Naturg.  V.  p.  56 
(1839);  Wiegm.  t.  c.  p.  56  note;  Gray,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  54 
(1844);  Thienem.  Fortpflanz.  gez.  Vogel.  Erst.  Heft.  p.  4  taf.  ii  fig. 
2,  egg  (1845);  Chenuet  Des  Murs,  Encd'Hist.  Nat.  Ois.  VI.  p.  303. 

Rhea  darwinii,  Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1837,  P-  35  (Patagonia);  Darw.  t.  c.  p. 
36  (Rio  Negro);  Charlsw.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  (2)  I.  p.  504  (1837);  Ed. 
Mag.  Zool.  &  Bot.  II.  pp.  92,  93  (1838);  Gould,  Isis,  XXXII.  p.  144 
(1839);  id.  Voy.  "Beagle,"  Birds,  p.  123,  pi.  XLVII  (1841);  Gray, 
Gen.  B.  III.  p.  527,  pi.  .138  (1844);  Reichenb.  Syn.  Av.  Gallin.  tab. 
388  figs.  2196-97  (1848);  Hartl.  J.  f.  O.  1854,  B.  pp.  LXII,  LXIII; 
Burm.  Syst.  Uebers.  Thier.  Bras.  III.  p.  352  (1856);  Bp.  C.  R. 
XLIII.  p.  841  (1856);  Scl.  Ibis,  1859,  p.  115;  id.  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  pp. 
207-210,  fig.  3;  id.  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  (3)  VI.  pp.  142,  144 
fig.  3  (1860);  id.  Ibis,  1860,  p.  310;  id.  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  IV.  p. 
357  %  3  (head),  pi.  LXX  (1862);  Leadb.  P.  Z.  S.  1863,  p.  i  (egg: 
Patagonia);  Schl.  De  Dierent.  p.  327  fig.  (1864);  Phil.  &  Landb. 
An.  Univ.  Chile,  XXXI,  p.  240  (1868:  Patagonia);  Holz.  J.  f.  O. 

1870,  p.  20  (egg);  Gray,  Handl.  B.  III.  p.  2,  no.  9844  (1871  :  S.  Pata- 
gonia) ;  Cunningh.  P.  Z.  S.    1871,  pp.    105-110,  pis.  VI,  VIA  (oste- 
ology); id.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.  p.   134  (1871);  Huds.  P.  Z.  S. 

1871,  p.    534;   Schl.    Mus.   Pays  Bas,   Struth.   p.   7    (1873);  Leyb. 
Excurs.  Pamp.  Arg.  p.  85  (1873);  Gigl.  Viagg.  Magenta,  pp.  955, 
962  (1875);  Martens,  J.  f.  O.    1875,  p.  444;  Harting,  Ostriches  & 
Ostr.   Farm.  pp.   85-92   (1877);    Durnf.  Ibis,   1877,  p.  46    (Chupat 
Valley);  id.  Ibis,  1878,  p.  406  (Central  Patagonia);  Beerbohm,  Wand. 
Patagonia,  pp.  50-52  (1879);  id.  Ibis,  1879,  p.  385;  Doering,  Expl. 


AVES RHEID^E. 


al  Rio  Negro,  Zool.  p.  58  (1881);  Parker,  P.  Z.  S.  1883,  p.  141 
(anatomy);  Gadow,  P.  Z.  S.  1885,  pp.  308-322  (anatomy);  Scl.  t.  c. 
p.  324  (egg);  Ball,  Notes  of  a  Natural,  in  S.  America,  p.  261  (1887); 
Phil.  Ornis.  IV.  p.  159  (1888;  Atacampa);  Scl.  &  Huds.  Arg.  Orn. 
II.  p.  219  (1889);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1890,  p.  412  (Tarapaca);  Oust.  Mis. 
Scient.  Cap  Horn.  Ois.  p.  247  (1891);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1891,  pp.  132, 
I37>  334  (Canchosa);  id.  P,  Z.  S.  1892,  p.  472  (in  confinement); 
James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  14  (1892:  Tarapaca);  Blaauw.  P.  Z.  S. 
1893  p.  532  (nidification);  Schal.  J.  f.  O.  1894,  p.  n  (eggs);  Salvad. 
Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVII.  p.  582  (1895);  Nath.  J.  f.  O.  1896,  p.  257 
(eggs);  Lane,  Ibis,  1897,  p.  316  (Andes  of  northern  Chile);  Schal. 
Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  646  (1898:  Punta  Arenas);  Sharpe, 
Handl.  B.  I.  p.  i  (1899);  Martens,  Vog.  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr. 
p.  23  (1900;  Tarapaca);  Carabajal,  La  Patagonia  Part  II.  p.  250 
(1900);  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX.  p.  634  (1900);  Gates, 
Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  2  (1901);  Prichard,  Thr.  Heart 
Patagonia,1  pp.  63,  136,  163,  239  (1902). 

Avesting  petizo,  Gosse,  Bull.  Soc.  Acclim.  III.  p.  297  (1856). 

Rhea  americana  subsp.  darwinii,  Bocking,  Archiv  fur  Naturg.  XXIX.  p. 
213  (1863). 

Struthio  darwini,  Sternb.  J.  f.  O.  p.  274  (1869)  (Buenos  Ayres). 

Pterocnemis  darwinii,  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotrop.  p.  154  (1873). 

Avestruz  petise,  Darw.  Natural.  Voy.  round  the  World,  pp.  92-94  (1882). 

FIG.   3. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  male.  Total  length, 
about  36  inches. 

Bill  from  gape,  3.6  inches. 

Tarsus  10.5  to  11  inches. 

Princeton  University  collection,  No. 
6,704. 

Color. —  General  color  buff-brown,  the 
tips  of  many  of  the  feathers  of  the  back, 
and  of  all  of  the  quills  silvery  white. 

Head  :  Grayish  buff.  The  hairy  long 
feathers  of  the  brow,  crown,  sides  of  the 
face  and  occiput  deep  umber,  giving  a  dusky  appearance. 

1  Full  title,  Through  the  Heart  of  Patagonia. 


Head   of  Rhea   darwini. 
natural  size. 


Profile. 


10 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 


FIG.  4. 


The  throat  is  pale  buffish  gray,  the  hairy  long   feathers  being  of  the 
same  shade. 

Neck :  Exclusive  of  the  throat  the  neck  has  a  similar 
but  noticeably  darker  ground  color,  the  hairy  long  feath- 
ers are  lacking  but  a  general  finely  striped  effect  is 
produced  by  the  dark  brown  median  portion  of  each 
feather. 

Wings :  Short  and  imperfect.  Secondaries,  dark 
buffish  brown  like  the  back  and  tipped  extensively  with 
silvery  white. 

Tail  not  apparent. 

Rump  brown,  each  feather  with  distinct  silvery  white 
tip. 

Lower  parts  dull  grayish  white. 
Legs  :   Feathered  portion  dull  buffish  brown.      The 
feathers  extend  down  on  the  metatarsus  as  shown  in  Fig. 
4,  then  comes  an  area  of  small  reticulate  scutes  and 
finally  the  lower  part  of  the  tarsus  has  transverse  scutes. 
Bare  portion  of  tarsus  yellowish  horn  brown.     Feet 
paler. 

Bill  horn  brown. 
Iris  dark  hazel. 

The  female  is  similar  to  the  male  in  size  and 
color. 

Downy  Young.  —  Princeton  University  col- 
lection, No.  7,853.  Taken  near  Coy  Inlet, 
Patagonia,  12  November,  1896. 

General  character  of  down  much  like  that 
of  newly  hatched  ducklings. 

Color. — The  head  is  grayish,  the  longest 
feathers  darker,  giving  a  general  dusky  effect. 
The  neck  is  pale  gray,  almost  white  beneath. 
A  dark  stripe  proceeds  from  the  occiput  down 
the  back  of  the  neck,  becoming  gradually 
darker,  until  where  the  neck  joins  the  body 

.     .  1  •     •  Rhea  darwini.    Downy  chick. 

it  is  deep  seal  brown.     This  color  also  distm-    ^  naturai  size.  From  specimens 
guishes  the  back,  but  is  broken  by  two  clearly    collected  by  Mr.  Hatcher. 


Lower  leg  of  Rhea 
darwini,  showing 
feathering  and  scute 
pattern. 


FIG.  5. 


AVES RHEID/E. 


II 


defined  white  stripes,  one  on  either  side  of  a  median  region  of  seal 
brown.  These  three  stripes,  one  dark  and  two  white,  are  about  half  an 
inch  in  width  and  starting  from  just  between  the  shoulders,  end  at  the 
region  of  the  tail. 

Beneath  the  general  color  is  pale  buffy  white  with  a  median  stripe  of 
dusky  gray.     The  downy  covering  of  the  legs  is  buffy  white,  with  a  dark 


FIG.  6. 


FIG.  7. 


FIG.  8. 


Rlica  danvini..  Lower  leg 
of  downy  chick.  Profile.  Nat- 
ural size. 


Rhea  danvini.  Lower  leg 
of  downy  chick.  Front  view. 
Natural  size. 


Rhea  darwini.  Lower  leg 
of  downy  chick.  Back  view. 
Natural  size. 


seal  brown  area  on  the  back  and  lighter  and  less  clearly  defined  area  near 
the  front,  on  the  exterior  feathered  part  of  each  leg. 

The  tarsus  is  feathered  and  scutellated  precisely  as  in  the  adult  bird. 
(See  Figs.  6,  7  and  8.) 

Geographical  Range.  —  Patagonia.  Especially  the  southern  half,  be- 
coming less  common  in  the  more  northern  portions  and  extending  to 
Tarapaca. 

A  remarkable  feature  of  the  feet  of  the  downy  young  is  an  extensive 
soft  pad  under  each  toe  reaching  from  the  nail  to  the  juncture  of  the  toes, 
and  extending  so  far  on  each  side  of  the  toes  as  to  give  a  webbed  or 
semi-palmate  appearance  to  the  foot.  (See  Fig.  9. ) 

It  is  well  known  that  both  this  species  and  the  preceding  one  are  vigor- 
ous swimmers,  crossing  wide  and  swift-flowing  rivers  and  even  passing 


12 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 


from  island  to  island  in  the  sea,  where  the  distance .  is  not  great.  The 
remarkable  partial  webbing  of  the  feet  in  the  downy  young  here  noticed 
must  be  of  great  advantage  to  these  weaker  birds  in  fol- 
lowing the  parent  bird  during  such  passages. 


FIG.  9. 


Several  adults,  immature,  and  nestlings  have  been  received 
by  the  British   Museum  from  the  Valle  del  Lago  Blanco, 
Chubut,  January  10,  1900  ;  collected  by  J.  Koslowsky. 
Rhea  darwini.        The    Princeton    Expeditions    obtained   many  adults   of 
Foot  of  downy    Rjiea  darwini,  Gould,  and  most  of  these  were  lost  as  pre- 
sh  wiT  th      viously  described   (page  4  this   volume).     However,  two 
pads.      Natural    adult  and  a  brood  of  seven  downy  young  form  a  series  of 
great  value  and  are  herewith  cited  in  detail : 


size. 


Form. 

P.  U.  O.  Coll.  No. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

Skin. 

7,985 

ad. 

Mounted. 

6,704 

ad. 

L    . 

Skin. 

7,848 

Juv. 

Near  Coy  Inlet,  Patagonia. 

1  2  November,  1  896. 

td 

7,849 

Juv. 

< 

HiH 

7,850 

Juv. 

< 

ffi 
H 

7,85i 

Juv. 

f 

0 
]gf 

7,852 

Juv. 

t 

<n 
p 

7,853 

Juv. 

t 

7,854 

Juv. 

I 

Darwin's  account  of  this  Rhea  is  here  appended: 

"When  at  the  Rio  Negro  in  northern  Patagonia,  I  repeatedly  heard 
the  Guachos  talking  of  a  very  rare  bird  which  they  called  Avestruz  Petise. 
They  described  it  as  being  less  than  the  common  ostrich  (which  is  there 
very  abundant),  but  with  a  very  close  general  resemblance.  They  said 
its  colour  was  dark  and  mottled,  and  that  its  legs  were  shorter,  and 
feathered  lower  down  than  those  of  the  common  ostrich.  It  is  more  easily 
caught  by  the  bolas  than  the  other  species.  The  few  inhabitants  who  had 
seen  both  kinds,  affirmed  they  could  distinguish  them  apart  from  a  long 
distance.  The  eggs  of  the  small  species  appeared,  however,  'more  gener- 
ally known ;  and  it  was  remarked,  with  surprise,  that  they  were  very  little 
less  than  those  of  the  Rhea,  but  of  a  slightly  different  form,  and  with  a 
pale  tinge  of  pale  blue.  This  species  occurs  most  rarely  on  the  plains 


AVES RHEID.E.  13 

bordering  the  Rio  Negro ;  but  about  a  degree  and  a  half  further  south 
they  are  tolerably  abundant.  When  at  Port  Desire,  in  Patagonia  (lat. 
48°),  Mr.  Martens  shot  an  ostrich;  and  I  looked  at  it,  forgetting  at  the 
moment,  in  the  most  unaccountable  manner,  the  whole  subject  of  the 
Petises,  and  thought  it  not  a  full-grown  bird  of  the  common  sort.  It  was 
cooked  and  eaten  before  my  memory  returned.  Fortunately  the  head, 
neck,  legs,  wings,  many  of  the  larger  feathers  and  a  large  part  of  the  skin 
had  been  preserved ;  and  from  these  a  very  nearly  perfect  specimen  has 
been  put  together,  and  is  now  exhibited  in  the  museum  of  the  Zoological 
Society.  Mr.  Gould,  in  describing  this  new  species,  has  done  me  the 
honour  of  calling  it  after  my  name. 

"  Among  the  Patagonian  Indians  in  the  Strait  of  Magellan,  we  found  a 
half  Indian,  who  had  lived  some  years  with  the  tribe,  but  had  been  born 
in  the  northern  provinces.  I  asked  him  if  he  had  ever  heard  of  the 
Avestrus  Petise  ?  He  answered  by  saying,  'Why  there  are  none  others 
in  the  Southern  countries.'  He  informed  me  that  the  number  of  eggs  in 
the  nest  of  the  petise  is  considerably  less  than  in  that  of  the  other  kind, 
namely,  not  more  than  fifteen  on  an  average ;  but  he  asserted  that  more 
than  one  female  deposited  them.  At  Santa  Cruz  we  saw  several  of  these 
birds.  They  were  exceedingly  wary ;  I  think  they  could  see  a  person 
approaching  when  too  far  off  to  be  distinguished  themselves.  In  ascend- 
ing the  river- few  were  seen ;  but  in  our  quiet  and  rapid  descent,  many,  in 
pairs  and  by  fours  or  fives,  were  observed.  It  was  remarked  that  this 
bird  did  not  expand  its  wings,  when  first  starting  at  full  speed,  after  the 
manner  of  the  northern  kind.  In  conclusion,  I  may  observe  that  the 
Struthio  rJiea  inhabits  the  country  of  La  Plata  as  far  as  a  little  south  of 
the  Rio  Negro  in  lat.  41°,  and  that  the  Struthio  darwinii  takes  its  place 
in  southern  Patagonia,  the  part  about  the  Rio  Negro  being  neutral  terri- 
tory. Mr.  A.  d'Orbigny,  when  at  the  Rio  Negro,  made  great  exertions 
to  procure  this  bird,  but  never  had  the  good  fortune  to  succeed.  Dobriz- 
hoffer  long  ago  was  aware  of  there  being  two  kinds  of  ostriches.  He  says  : 
'  You  must  know,  moreover,  that  Emus  differ  in  size  and  habits  in  differ- 
ent tracts  of  land;  for  those  that  inhabit  the  plains  of  Buenos  Ayres  and 
Tucuman  are  larger,  and  have  black,  white  and  grey  feathers ;  those  near 
to  the  Strait  of  Magellan  are  smaller  and  more  beautiful,  for  their  white 
feathers  are  tipped  with  black  at  the  extremities,  and  their  black  ones'  in 
like  manner  terminate  in  white.' '  (Darwin's  "Voyage  of  H.  M.  S.  Beagle," 
pp.  92-94,  D.  Appleton  &  Co.,  1888.) 


14  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

As  late  as  1872,  Mr.  W.  H.  Hudson  writes  in  a  communication  to  the 
Zoological  Society  of  London1 : 

"I  did  not  succeed  in  obtaining  specimens  of  the  Avestruz  petise 
(Rhea  darwini}.  It  is  called  by  the  Indians 'Molu  Chinque'  meaning 
'  Dwarf  Chinque,'  the  name  of  the  common  species  being  Chinque.  They 
are  found  over  the  whole  country,  from  the  Rio  Negro  to  the  Straits  of 
Magellan,  and  are  also  met  with,  but  rarely,  north  of  the  river.  They 
were  formerly  exceedingly  numerous  along  the  Rio  Negro ;  but  a  few 
years  ago  their  feathers  rose  to  an  exorbitant  price.  Guachos  and  Indians 
found  that  hunting  the  Ostrich  was  their  most  lucrative  employment ;  and 
consequently  these  noble  birds  were  pursued  unceasingly,  and  slaughtered 
in  such  numbers  that  they  have  been  nearly  exterminated  wherever  the 
nature  of  the  country  admits  of  their  being  chased.  I  was  so  anxious  to 
obtain  specimens  of  this  bird  that  I  engaged  ten  or  twelve  Indians,  by 
offering  a  liberal  reward,  to  hunt  for  me ;  they  went  out  several  times,  but 
failed  to  capture  a  single  adult  bird. 

"A  few  facts  I  have  been  able  to  gather  in  reference  to  them  may  not 
prove  uninteresting,  as  the  Rhea  darwini  is  but  imperfectly  known. 
When  hunted  it  frequently  attempts  to  elude  the  sight  by  suddenly 
squatting  down  amongst  the  bushes ;  and  when  lying  close  amid  the 
grey-leaved  bushes  that  cover  the  country  it  frequents,  it  very  easily 
escapes  the  sight.  When  hotly  pursued  it  possesses  the  same  remarkable 
habit  as  the  R.  americana  of  raising  the  wings  alternately  and  holding 
them  erect;  it  also  manifests  the  same  facility  for  suddenly  doubling,  in 
order  to  avoid  its  pursuers.  It  runs  more  swiftly  than  the  common 
species,  but  is  also  more  quickly  exhausted.  When  running,  the 
R.  americana  carries  the  neck  erect  or  sloping  slightly  forward ;  the 
R.  darwini  carries  it  stretched  forward  almost  horizontally,  making  it 
appear  smaller  than  it  is.  From  this  habit  it  is  said  to  derive  the  ver- 
nacular name  of  '  Dwarf  Ostrich.'  They  go  in  flocks  of  from  three  or  four 
to  thirty  or  more  individuals.  I  have  not  been  able  to  learn  if  the  males 
fight  together  as  do  those  of  the  R.  americana,  or  if  they  possess  like  that 
species  a  call-note.  The  strange  trumpeting  cry  of  the  R.  americana  is 
often  heard  after  they  have  been  hunted  and  scattered  in  all  directions  ;  it 
is  an  indescribable  sound,  and  resembles  somewhat  the  hollow  heavy  sigh 
with  which  a  bull  often  ends  his  bellowing,  and  appears  to  fill  the  air,  so 

lProc.  Zool.  Soc.  London  (April),  1872,  p.  534. 


AVES RHEID/E.  1 5 

that  it  is  impossible  to  tell  from  which  quarter  it  proceeds.  The  soft 
leisurely  notes  are  the  same  in  both  species.  The  R.  darwini  begins  to 
lay  at  the  end  of  July — that  is,  a  month  sooner  than  the  R.  americana  ; 
in  all  the  breeding-habits  of  the  two  species  there  is  a  wonderful  simi- 
larity. 

"A  number  of  females  lay  in  one  nest,  the  nest  being  merely  a  slight 
depression  lined  with  rubbish ;  as  many  as  fifty  eggs  are  sometimes  found 
in  one  nest.  But  the  R.  darwini,  as  well  as  the  common  species,  lays 
many  '  huacho '  or  stray  eggs,  at  a  distance  from  the  nest.  I  inspected  a 
number  of  eggs  brought  in  by  a  party  of  hunters,  and  was  surprised  at  the 
great  differences  amongst  them  in  size,  form  and  colour.  The  average 
size  of  the  eggs  was  the  same  as  those  of  the  common  species  ;  in  shape 
they  were  more  or  less  oval  or  elliptical,  scarcely  two  being  found  pre- 
cisely alike.  When  newly  laid,  the  eggs  are  a  deep  rich  green,  and  the 
shell  possesses  a  fine  polish.  They  soon  fade  however ;  and  first  the  side 
exposed  to  the  sun  assumes  a  dull  pale  mottled  green ;  this  colour  again 
changes  to  a  yellowish,  and  again  to  a  pale  stone-blue,  becoming  at  last 
almost  white.  The  comparative  age  of  each  egg  in  the  nest  may  be  told 
by  the  colour  of  its  shell. 

"When  the  females  have  finished  laying,  the  male  sits  on  and  hatches 
the  young.  The  young  are  hatched  with  the  legs  feathered  to  the  toes ; 
these  feathers  are  not  shed  from  the  legs,  but  are  gradually  worn  off  as 
the  birds  grow  old  by  continual  friction  against  the  stiff  shrubs  amid  which 
they  live.  In  adults  usually  a  few  scattered  feathers  remain,  often  only 
the  worn  down  stumps  of  the  feathers ;  but  I  have  been  told  by  hunters 
that  the  old  birds  are  sometimes  caught  with  the  legs  entirely  feathered, 
and  that  these  birds  frequent  plains  where  there  was  but  little  scrub. 
The  plumage  of  the  young  birds  is  of  a  dusky  grey,  without  any 
white  or  black  feathers  or  spots.  When  a  year  old  they  moult,  and 
acquire  the  spotted  plumage  of  adults,  but  do  not  attain  the  full  size  till 
the  third  year." 

This  exceedingly  interesting  account  of  the  habits  of  R.  darwini  is  quoted 
in  full.  It  is  probable  that  the  errors  in  regard  to  the  feathering  of  the 
"  legs  feathered  to  the  toes  "  grew  out  of  the  fact  of  the  partial  feathering 
of  the  tarsus  in  both  old  and  young  birds,  a  marked  character  that  might 
readily  be  exaggerated  by.  the  native  hunters,  for  at  this  period  Mr.  Hudson 
had  not  been  able  to  secure  specimens. 


1 6  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 

Prichard,  Through  the  Heart  of  Patagonia  (p.  163),  writes:  "During 
the  whole  of  our  travels  we  observed  but  one  kind  of  Rhea  (Rhea  dar- 
wini].  The  remarks  that  Darwin  makes  concerning  the  habits  of  this 
bird  have  little  to  be  added  to  them.  The  male  bird,  which  hatches  out 
the  young,  will,  when  approached,  feign  to  be  wounded  in  order  to  draw 
off  the  intruder  from  the  nest  of  the  chicks.  I  have  never  seen  more  than 
nineteen  -chicks  with  a  single  ostrich  at  any  period  within  a  month  or  two 
of  the  hatching,  but  I  was  informed  by  the  Gauchos  that  this  number  is 
not  an  outside  limit." 


Subclass  CARINAT^E. 

Huxley,  P.  Z.  S.    1867  pp.  424-472  ;  Sharpe,   Hand-List  Bds.,   I.  p.  8, 

(1899). 
Neognathce,  Pycraft,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  XV.'  pp.    149-290  (1900);  id.  J. 

Linn.  Soc.  Zool.  XXVIII.  pp.  343-357,  pis.  31,  32  (1901). 

Order  TIN  AM  I  FORMES. 

Crypturiformes,    Sharpe,   Classif.    Bds.   p.   68  (1891)    (=  Tinamiformes]. 
Tinamiformes,  id.  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  8  (1899)  :  Mitchell,  Trans.  Linn. 
Soc.  (2)  VIII.  pp.  173-275,  pis.  21-23  (1901  :  Intestinal  tract). 

Family  TINAMID^:. 

Salvador!,  Cat.  Birds  Brit.  Mus.  XXVII.  p.  496  ('1895) ;  Sharpe,  Hand- 
List  Bds.  I.  p.  8  (1899) :  De  Guerne,  C.  R.  Congr.  Orn.  III.  pp.  65- 
75  (1901  :  Life-history). 

Subfamily   TINAMIN^E. 

Salvadori,  Cat.  Birds  Brit.  Mus.  XXVII.  p.  496  (1895);  Sharpe,  Hand- 
List  Bds.  I.  p.  8  (1899). 


AVES  —  TOtAUWM.  17 

Genus  RHYNCHOTUS  Spix. 

Type. 

Rhynchotus,  Spix,  Aves.  Bras.  ii.  p.  60  (1825) ;  Salvadori, 
Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVII.  p.  547  (1895);  Sharpe, 
Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  10  (1899) R.  rufescens. 

Nothums,  Sw.  Class.  B.  ii.  p.  345  (1837) R.  rufescens. 

Rhynchotis,  Rchnb.  Syn.  Av.  Gallinaceae,  t.  287.  ff.  1579-80 

(1848)  (=  Rhynchotus'] . 
Geographical  Range.  —  South  America,  east  of  the  Andes,  from  Brazil 

and  Bolivia  to  the  Argentine  Republic. 

• 

RHYNCHOTUS  RUFESCENS  (Temminck). 

Inambu-giiazu,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  34  (1805). 

Tinamus   rufescens,  Temm.  Pig.  et   Gallin.  III.  p.  747  (1815);   id.   PL 
Col.  pi.  412  (1826). 

Cryptura  guazu,  Vieill.  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  XXXIV.  p.  103  (1819:  ex 
Azara). 

Tinamus  guazu,  Vieill.  Enc.  Meth.  I.  p.  370  (1820). 

Crypturus  rufescens,  Licht.  Verz.  Doubl.  p.  67  (1823);  Darw.  Voy. 
"Beagle,"  Birds  p.  120  (1841). 

Rhynchotus  fasciatus,  Spix,  Av.  Bras.  II.  p.  60  tab.  76a  (1825). 

Rhynchotus  rufescens,  Wagl.  Syst.  Av.  Rhynchotus  sp.  I.  p.  302  (1827); 
Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  525  (1844);  Hartl.  Ind.  Azara.  p.  21  (1847); 
Burm.  J.  f.  O.  1858,  p.  161  (Mendoza),  1860,  p.  259;  id.  La  Plata 
Reise,  II.  p.  498  (1861  :  Parana;  Rosaria;  Tucuman ;  Banda  Orien- 
tal); Gray,  List  Gall.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  102  (1867:  Maldonado);  Sperl- 
ing, Ibis,  1872,  p.  77  (St.  Lucia  river,  Rio  de  la  Plata);  Huds.  & 
Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1872,  p.  516  (Buenos  Ayres);  Scl.  Ibis,  1873,  p.  131 
note;  id.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  153  (1873);  Durnf.  Ibis, 
1876,  p.  1 66  (Chirilcay,  abundant),  1877,  p.  203  (Buenos  Ayres); 
Nathus.  J.  f.  O.  1879,  p.  258  (egg);  Gibson,  Ibis,  1880,  p.  167; 
Doering,  Expl.  al  Rio  Negro,  Zool.  Aves  p.  57  (1881  :  Carhue); 
Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  317  (1884:  Entre  Rios);  Withington,  Ibis,  1888, 
p.  473  (Lomas  de  Zamora);  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III. 
Part  X.  p.  245  (1888:  Bahia  Blanca);  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn. 
II.  p.  209  (1889);  Evans,  Ibis,  1891,  p.  83  (incubation);  Frenzel,  J. 
f.  O.  1891,  p.  123  (Cordoba);  Graham  Kerr,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  151 


1 8  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

(Lower   Pilcomayo);    Holland,    t.    c.   p.   214   (Estancia   Espartilla); 
Aplin,   Ibis,    1894,   p.   212   (Uruguay);   Salvad.   Cat.   B.   Brit.   Mus. 
XXVII.  p.  548  (1895);  Sharpe,  Hand-list  B.  I.  p.  10  (1899);  Gates, 
Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  12  (1901). 
Nothurus  rufescens,  Swains.  Classif.  B.  II.  p.  345  (1837). 


FIG.    10.  FIG.   ii. 


Rhynchotus  rufescens.     Profile.  Rhynchotus  rufescens.     Bill  and  head 

J^  natural  size.  from  above.      ^  natural  size. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Total  length,  14—17  inches. 

Wing,  8-9  inches. 

Tail,  2.5-2.75  inches. 

Culmen,  1.6-1.7  inches. 

Tarsus,  2.3—2.5  inches. 

The  female  is  larger  than  the  male. 

Color.  —  Head:  Crown  and  forehead  black,  the  feathers  edged  generally 
with  buffy  rufous.  Remainder  of  head  buff  with  a  dusky  stripe  extend- 
ing from  angle  of  mouth  to  the  region  of  the  ear.  The  female  is  more 
intense  in  shade  of  color  and  definite  in  barring  than  the  male. 

Throat :  Pale  buff,  almost  white. 

Neck :  Creamy  buff  with  a  rufous  tinge. 


AVES TINAMID^E. 


I 


Breast:   Grayish  buff  with  obscure  bars   of  pale   cinnamon   on   each 
feather. 

Back :    Pale  grayish  brown,  with  broad  dusky  and   narrow  buffy  and 
paler  rufous  bars.     This  color  and  marking  is  characteristic  of 
the  rump,  and  upper  wing  and  tail  coverts.  FIG.  12. 

Wing :  Bastard  wing,  primaries,  their  coverts  and  secon- 
daries bright  cinnamon,  rufous  unmarked.  Tertiaries  grayish 
with  brown  and  buffy  barring.  Under  wing  coverts  rufous. 

Tail :  Like  the  back  but  grayer  and  barred  with  broader 
dusky  and  narrow  buffy  gray  markings. 

Lower  parts:  Gray  with  obscure  dusky  and  buffy  barring, 
most  apparent  on  the  sides  and  flanks. 

Feet  and  legs  dull  brown.     Bill  horn.     Iris  hazel. 

Downy  young  are  characterized  by  a  general  rufous  tint  on 
head  and  neck,  barred  with  longitudinal  dusky  stripes.  The  Rhyncho- 
rest  of  the  upper  parts  are  barred  with  dusky  and  grayish  white.  tus  rufes- 
The  lower  parts  are  pure  white,  sometimes  with  a  cream  tinge.  w" 

Geographical  Range. — Argentina,  northward  to  eastern  and    foot  i  nat. 
southern  Brazil.     South  to  Chubut  and  the  plains  of  the  north-    ural  size, 
ern  portion  of  southern  Patagonia. 


This  Tinamou  was  not  procured  by  the  naturalists  of  the  Princeton 
Expeditions  to  Patagonia.  The  material  on  which  the  descriptions  are 
based  is  the  series  of  birds  in  the  British  Museum  and  from  two  individ- 
uals in  the  Princeton  University  Museum  cited  in  full  below. 


P.  U.  O.  C.  No. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

8,817 

8,818 

Male. 
Female. 

Prov.  of  Buenos  Aires,  Argentine. 
Prov.  of  Buenos  Aires,  Argentine. 

August,  1899. 
August,  1899. 

Museo  de  La  Plata. 
Museo  de  La  Plata. 

These  two  representatives  are  examples  of  the  pale  southern  race 
noticed  by  Count  Salvadori  (Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.,  XXVII,  p.  549  (1895). 
Barrows,  speaking  of  this  bird,  says  it  is  "Also  called  Martinete,  as  is 
also  the  crested  Tinamou  (Calodromas  elegans],  which  is  found  farther 
south.  The  present  species  is  a  rather  common  resident  at  Concep- 
cion,  where  it  breeds.  It  frequents  long  grass  and  dense  growths  of 


20  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 

creeping  vines  and  brambles,  but  avoids  equally  the  open  grazing  grounds 
and  the  wooded  stretches.  It  runs  with  surprising  speed,  and  is  very 
difficult  to  flush  without  a  dog,  but  once  started  flies  straight  and  strong. 
But,  as  has  been  repeatedly  noticed  by  Hudson  and  others,  the  second 
flight  is  much  feebler,  and  if  forced  to  rise  for  the  third  time  it  soon  drops 
and  can  then  be  easily  caught  by  a  dog.  Its  ordinary  call  consists  of 
four  or  five  mellow  notes  closely  resembling  the  call  of  the  Baltimore 
Oriole,  and  for  months  I  failed  to  attribute  it  to  the  true  source.  The 
eggs,  four  in  number,  are  always  laid  on  the  ground  in  a  rude  nest 
of  grasses,  etc.  They  are  about  the  size  of  a  hen's  egg,  of  a  beautiful, 
purplish-chocolate  color,  and  with  a  polish  not  met  with  outside  this 
family.  It  would  be  difficult  to  find  an  egg  which  could  compare  in 
beauty  with  those  laid  by  this  bird.  The  species  is  more  or  less  plenty  at 
all  points  on  the  pampas.  Its  flesh  is  not  particularly  good,  but  is  a  vast 
improvement  on  the  dry,  tasteless  flesh  of  the  following  species  (Nothura 
maculosa]  which,  nevertheless,  is  highly  prized  because  it  is  white."  (Bar- 
rows, Auk,  I,  4,  p.  317,  1884.) 


Genus  NOTHURA  Wagler. 

Type. 

Tinamus,  Spix  (nee  Lath.),  Av.  Bras.  II.  p.  63  (1825).    .     N.  boraquira. 
Nothura,  Wagler,  Syst.  Av.  p.  297   (1827);  Salvador!, 
Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVII.  p.  558  (1895);  Sharpe, 

Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  n   (1899) N.  boraquira. 

Nothurus,  part.  Sw.  Classif.  Bds.  II.  p.  345  (1837). 
Nothera  G.  R.  Gray,  List  Gen.  Bds.  p.  63  (1840). 

Geographical  Range.  —  Bolivia,  southern  Brazil,  Argentina  and  north- 
ern Patagonia. 

NOTHURA  MACULOSA  (Temminck). 

Inambui,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  40,  (1805:    Paraguay). 

Tinamus  maculosus,  Temm.  Pig.  etGallin.  III.  pp.  557,  748  (1815) ;  PWied. 

Reis.  nach  Bras.  I.  p.  116  (1820)  (=medius,  Spix?)  ;  Temm.  PI.  Col., 
'genre  Tinamou,  p.  2  (1826)  (=  major,  Spix)  ;   PWied.,  Beitr.  IV.  p. 

519  (1832)  (=medius,  Spix?);   Less.  Compl.  de  Buff.,  2d  ed.  Ois.  p. 

237  (1838)  ;  Nathus.  J.  f.  O.  1879,  p.  358  (egg),  1882,  p.  283. 


AVES TINAMID^E.  21 

Cryptura  fasciata,  Vieill.  Nov.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  XXXIV.  p.  109  (1819) 

(ex  Azara). 

Tinamus  fasciatus,  Vieill.  Enc.  Meth.  I.  p.  370  (1820). 
Crypturus  maculosus,   Licht.  Verz.    Doubl.   p.   68,   n.    706  (San  Paulo) 

(1823);  Thienem.  Fortpflanz.  p.  26  t.  v.  f.  n  (egg)  (1845). 
Tinainus  major,  Spix  (nee  auct),  Av.  Bras.  II.  p.  64,  t.  80  (Minas  Geraes) 

(1825). 

Nothura  major,  Wagl.  Syst.  Av.  gen.  Nothura,  sp.  2  (1827)  ;  Wagl. 
Isis,  1829,  p.  747;  Less.  Tr.  d'Orn.  p.  513,  n.  2  (1831);  Darwin, 
Zool.  Voy.  "Beagle"  III.  p.  119  (1841)  ;  G.  R.  Gray,  Gen.  Bds.  III. 
p.  525,  n.  2  (1844),  Append,  p.  25  (1849)  ;  Reichnb.  Syn.  Av.  Gal- 
linaceae,  t.  286.  f.  1575  (1848)  (ex  Spix)  ;  ?  Bonap.  Compt.  Rend. 
XLII.  p.  88 1,  n.  338  (1856)  ;  Bonap.  Tabl.  Parall.  Gallin.  (Extract), 
p.  12,  n.  340  (1856)  ;  Pelz.  Orn.  Bras.  p.  295  (Ypanema,  Cimetirio, 
•  Pederneiras,  Ytarare,  Jaguaraiba),  pp.  454,  LVI  (1871) ;  Alix,  Journ. 
de  Zool.  III.  pp.  167,  252,  pis.  VIII-XI  (skeleton  and  muscles)  (1874). 

Nothura  medius,  part.  Wagl.  Syst.  Av.  Gen.  Nothura,  sp.  2  (1827); 
Less.  Tr.  d'Orn.  p.  513,  n.  3  (1831). 

Tinamus  maculatus,  Less.  Man.  d'Orn.  II.  p.  204  (1818);  Natter.  Fide 
Thienem.  Fortpflanz.  p.  26  (Amm.)  (1845). 

Nothura  maculosus,  Sw.  Classif.  Bds.  II.  p.  345  (1837). 

Nothura  maculosa,  G.  R.  Gray,  Gen.  Bds.  III.  p.  525,  n.  3  (syn. 
emend.)  (1844);  id.  List.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  III.  p.  53  (syn.  emend.) 
(1844)  ;  Hartl.  Ind.  Azara  Apunt.  p.  21,  n.  327  (syn.  emend.) 
(1847);  Licnt-  Nom-  Av-  P-  87  (Minas)  (1854);  Burm.  Syst.  Ueb. 
Th.  Bras.  III.  p.  336  (part.)  (1856)  ;  id.  La  Plata-Reise,  II.  p.  499 
(part.)  (1861);  id.  J.  f.  O.  1866,  p.  259  (La  Plata);  G.  R.  Gray,  List 
Gallinae  Brit.  Mus.  p.  104  (1867);  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  143 
(Buenos  Ayres) ;  Sternberg,  J.  f.  O.  1869,  p.  274  (Buenos  Ayres) ; 
Holtz,  J.  f.  O.  1870,  p.  19  (eggs);  Reinh.  Vid.  Medd.  Naturh.  Foren. 
Kjobenh.  1870,  p.  51  (Minas  Geraes);  G.  R.  Gray,  Hand-List  Bds. 
III.  p.  5,  n.  9902  (1871);  PLeybold,  Exc.  Pamp.  Arjent.  p.  —  (1873); 
Sclat.  &  Salv.  Nom.  Av.  Neotrop.  p.  153,  n.  i  (Brazil,  Paraguay  and 
Argentine)  (1873);  Hudson,  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  pp.  167,  170;  Garrod,  P. 
Z.  S.  1875,  p.  343  (plantar  tendons);  ?  Leybold  (v.  Mart,  transl.),  J. 
f.  O.  1875,  p.  443;  Durnf.  Ibis,  1876,  p.  165,  1877,  p.  203  (Buenos 
Ayres) ;  Gibson,  Ibis,  1880,  p.  168  (Buenos  Ayres) ;  Schleg.  Mus. 


22  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 

P.-B.,  Tinami,  p.  42  (part,  specim.  i,  2,  3,  6)  (1880);  Dalgleish, 
Pro.  Roy.  Phys.  Soc.  Edinb.  VI.  p.  249  (1882);  White,  P.  Z.  S. 
1882,  p.  629  (Missiones)  ;  Reichen.  J.  f.  O.  1882,  p.  11  (Zool. 
Gart);  Sclat.  List.  Vert.  An.  8th  ed.  p.  547  (1883)  (Zool.  Card.); 
Barrows,  Auk,  1884,  p.  317  (part,  Entre  Rios,  lower  Uruguay)  ; 
Helm.  J.  f.  O.  1885,  p.  347  (muscles)  ;  Berl.  J.  f.  O.  1887,  p.  37 
(Pilcomayo,  Rio  Grande  du  Sul),  p.  127  ;  Lucas,  Pr.  U.  S.  Nat. 
Mus.  1887,  pp.  157-158  (osteology);  Gibson,  Ibis,  1888,  p.  282 
(Paysandu,  Uruguay)  ;  Withington,  Ibis,  1888,  p.  473  (Lomas  de 
Zamora)  ;  Sclat  &  Huds.  Argent  Orn.  II.  p.  211  (1889);  Bedd. 
Ibis,  1890,  pp.  62,  63  (with  figure  of  cceca);  Sclat.  Ibis,  1890,  p.  82 
(quintocubital),  p.  425  ;  Heine  &  Rchnw.  Norn.  Mus.  Hein.  Orn. 
p.  304  (Chile  and  Montevideo)  (1890);  Holland,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  214 
(Argentine);  Aplin,  Ibis,  1894,  p.  214  (Uruguay);  Sclat  Ibis,  1894, 

P-  453- 
Tinamus  maculosa,  Gieb.  Thes.  Orn.  III.  p.  636  (syn.  emend.),  1877. 

Perdiz  comun,  Hudson,  P.  Z.  S.  1892,  pp.  547-548  (Valley  of  the  Rio 
Negro,  Patagonia). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. — Adult  male  P.  U.  O.  C.  No.  8,826,  Province 
of  Buenos  Ayres,  July,  1898,  Museo  de  La  Plata  collection. 
FIG.  13.  Size. --Total  length,  about  10.5  inches. 

Wing,  5.2  inches. 
Culmen,  0.8  inches. 
Tarsus,  1.3  inches. 

The  adult  female  is  somewhat  larger  than  the  adult 
male. 

Color  Adult  Male  (cited). — General   color    above, 
pale  yellowish  brown,  barred  with  shades  of  dark  brown 
and  striped  with  whitish.     Below  fulvescent,  the  breast 
Nothura   maculosa.  and  sides  decorated  with  brown  bars  and  spots. 

Profile,    ^natural  size.         Read  .    Cap    brown>     wjth    border   of  blackish   brown 

and  light  fulvescent  edge  to  each  feather.  A  broad  fulvescent  stripe 
reaching  from  the  bill  back  over  the  eye  and  defining  the  crown.  Sides 
of  head  and  face  fulvescent,  more  or  less  obscurely  and  minutely  spotted 
with  dusky  brown. 


AVES TINAMID.-E. 


FIG.  14. 


Neck  :  Above  fulvescent  and  spotted  or  streaked  minutely  with  dusky 
brown.  Chin  and  upper  throat  immaculate  white ;  the  lower  throat  and 
rest  of  under  neck  abruptly  fulvescent  and  more  coarsely  marked  with 
dusky  brown  than  the  top  of  the  neck.  Sides  of  the  neck  fulvescent, 
marked  with  dusky  brown. 

Back :  Clear  pale  yellowish  or  golden  brown,  each  feather  with  a 
number  of  brown  bars  of  varying  shade,  and  with  a  whitish  stripe  on 
either  edge  just  inside  of  the  fulvescent  or  brownish  edge 
mark  of  the  feather  (see  fig.  14).  Scapulars  and  lower  back 
similar. 

The  upper  tail  coverts  though  similar  in  color  and  pattern, 
are  not  very  long  but  obscure  the  rudimentary  rectrices. 

Wing :  Most  of  the  coverts  similar  in  color  and  pattern  to 
the  back.  Those  of  the  primaries  more  golden  brown,  without 
the  whitish  streaks,  but  barred  with  arrow-shaped  dark  brown 
marks.  The  quills  with  the  outer  webs  clearly  marked  with 
bars  of  pale  creamy  or  fulvous  and  dark  brown.  The  width  of 
the  light  bars  at  least  twice  that  of  the  dark  ones.  The  outer 
primaries  generally  with  plain  inner  webs,  and  the  succeeding 
ones  as  well  as  the  remainder  of  the  quills  with  more  or  less 
fulvescent  barring  and  marking  on  their  inner  webs,  the  inner- 
most secondaries  becoming  much  like  the  feathers  of  the  back  in  color 
and  decoration. 

Lower  Parts  :  Clear  fulvous,  the  feathers  of  the  breast  spotted  with 
dark  brown  forming  an  obscure  pectoral  band  which  extends 
down  on  the  sides,  where  the  markings  assume  a  more  barred 
character,  which  becomes  defined  further  down  on  the  sides  and 
flanks.  Lower  wing  coverts,  lower  tail  coverts  and  axillaries 
clear  fulvous. 

Bill  :  Dull  yellowish  brown. 
Iris  :  Dark  hazel  brown. 
Feet  and  Legs :  Dull  yellowish  brown. 

The  adult  female  (P.  U.  O.  C.  No.  8,627,  San  Luis,  Argen- 
tine Republic,  August,  1895,  Museo  de  La  Plata  collection)  is 
similar  to  the  adult  male  in  color  and  markings. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Paraguay,  Uruguay,  southern  Brazil,  Argentina 
and  extreme  northern  Patagonia  (Hudson ;  Valley  of  the  Rio  Negro). 


Nothura 
maculosa. 
Feather 
from  back. 
Enlarged. 


FIG.  15. 


Nothura 
maculosa. 
Breast  fea- 
ther. 


24  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  '.     ZOOLOGY. 

The  naturalists  of  the  Princeton  Expeditions  did  not  meet  with  the 
spotted  Tinamou.  The  description  given  is  based  on  a  pair  obtained  in  the 
Province  of  Buenos  Ayres  through  the  courtesy  of  the  Museo  de  La  Plata, 
and  also  on  the  fine  series  in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History. 

The  spotted  Tinamou  is  included  in  the  fauna  of  Patagonia  on  the 
strength  of  Hudson's  observations  on  the  Rio  Negro,  detailed  in  the  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London  for  1872,  on  pages  547  and 
548.  A  summary  is  here  appended  with  Dr.  Sclater's  comment  as  it 
occurs  in  the  text.  Mr.  Hudson  writes:  "You  will,  perhaps,  have  doubt 
about  this  bird  being  a  new  species ;  so  great  is  its  resemblance  to  the  Perdiz 
comun  \i.  e.,  Nothura  maculosa  (Temm.)  P.  L.  S.],  the  Lesser  Partridge, 
common  everywhere  on  the  Pampas.  After  arriving  in  Patagonia,  I  was 
told  by  several  persons  residing  there  that  there  were  two  species  of  small 
Partridge ;  one  I  found  to  be  the  Perdiz  comun  of  Buenos  Ayres,  which 
frequents  only  the  valley  of  the  Rio  Negro;  the  other  was  the  smaller 
species,  of  which  I  send  you  several  examples,  and  found  only  on  the 
high  tablelands.  The  adults  of  the  last  species  resemble  the  young  of 
the  former;  and  after  having  observed  them  for  several  months,  I  am 
satisfied  that  they  are  not  identical,  nor  varieties ;  for  they  differ  not  only 
in  size  and  coloring,  but  in  habits. 

"I  would  far  sooner  consider  the  Progne  chalybea  and  P.  piirpurea, 
identical  in  size,  language,  and  habits  as  these  birds  are,  one  species,  than 
Perdiz  chico  and  Perdiz  comun.  I  will  speak  first  of  the  Perdiz  comun. 
This  bird,  so  abundant  everywhere  on  the  Pampas  closely  resembles,  in 
all  its  habits,  the  Perdiz  grande,  living  entirely  amongst  grass,  as  the  Rail 
does  amongst  reeds ;  they  are  seen  singly ;  but  a  number  of  individuals 
are  usually  seen  in  proximity.  They  are  tame  in  disposition,  and  move 
in  a  leisurely  manner,  uttering  as  they  walk  or  run  a  succession  of  soft 
whistling  notes.  When  numerous  it  is  unnecessary  to  'shoot  them,  as  any 
number  can  be  killed  with  a  long  whip  or  stick.  This  species  has  two 
distinct  songs  or  calls,  pleasing  to  the  ear  and  heard  all  the  year  round ; 
one  is  a  succession  of  twenty  or  thirty  short,  impressive  notes  of  great 
compass,  and  ended  by  half  a  dozen  rapidly  uttered  notes,  beginning  loud, 
and  sinking  lower  till  they  cease ;  the  other  call  is  a  soft  continuous  trill, 
appearing  to  swell  mysteriously  in  the  air;  for  the  hearer  cannot  tell 
whence  it  proceeds ;  it  lasts  several  seconds,  then  seems  gradually  to  die 
away. 


AVES TINAMID^E.  25 

"The  female  lays  five  or  six  eggs,  in  colour  like  those  of  Perdiz 
grande.  The  valley  of  the  Rio  Negro,  usually  nine  or  ten  miles 
in  width,  is  a  flat  plain,  resembling  the  Buenos-Ayrean  Pampa;  and 
wherever  long  grass  and  weeds  abound  the  call-notes  of  the  Perdiz 
cotmm  is  heard  winter  and  summer;  but  outside  of  the  valley  I  have 
never  met  with  it. 

"The  Perdiz  chico  is  nowhere  very  numerous,  but  seems  thinly,  and 
equally  distributed  everywhere  on  the  high  bush-covered  tablelands,  and, 
like  the  Martineta,  is  partial  to  places  abounding  in  thin  scrub.  They 
have  a  shy  disposition,  and,  when  approached,  spring  up  and  run  away 
with  the  same  appearance  of  terror  exhibited  by  the  Martineta.  Some- 
times, when  running,  they  utter  low  whistling  notes  like  the  Perdiz 
comun;  their  flight  is  higher,  and  produces  far  less  sound  than  that  of 
Perdiz  comun.  They  have  but  one  call  note  —  a  succession  of  short 
notes,  like  those  of  the  other  species,  but  without  the  quick  concluding 
notes ;  this  call  is  only  heard  in  the  breeding  season.  Its  eggs  are  like 
those  of  the  Pampa  bird.  It  is  never  found  in  the  moist,  grassy  places 
frequented  by  the  Perdiz  comun." 

I  have  included  some  remarks  regarding  Perdiz  chico,  of  which  Mr. 
Hudson  sent  skins  to  Dr.  Sclater  from  the  point  in  question.  These  were 
identified  by  Dr.  Sclater  as  N.  darwini.  (Cf.  footnote,  P.  Z.  S.,  1872,  p. 
547).  The  cpmparison  of  the  two  species  by  Mr.  Hudson  and  his  com- 
ments seem  conclusive. 

Darwin  speaks  of  two  species  of  Nothura  ;  of  Nothura  major  ( =  N. 
tnac^tlosa}  he  says:  "These  birds  are  very  common  on  the  northern  shores 
of  the  Plata.  They  do  not  rise  in  coveys,  but  generally  by  pairs.  They 
do  not  conceal  themselves  nearly  so  closely  as  the  English  partridge,  and 
hence  great  numbers  may  be  seen  in  riding  across  the  open,  grassy  plains. 
Note,  a  shrill  whistle.  It  appears  a  very  silly  bird :  a  man  on  horseback, 
by  riding  round  and  round  in  a  circle,  or  rather  in  a  spire,  so  as  to  ap- 
proach closer  each  time,  may  knock  on  the  head  almost  as  many  as  he 
pleases.  The  more  common  method  is  to  catch  them  with  a  running 
noose,  or  little  lazo,  made  of  the  stem  of  an  ostrich's  feather,  fastened  to 
the  end  of  a  long  stick.  A  boy  on  a  quiet  horse  will  frequently  thus 
catch  thirty  or  forty  a  day.  The  flesh  of  this  bird,  when  cooked,  is  most 
delicately  white,  but  rather  tasteless."  (Darwin,  Zool.  "  Voy.  Beagle," 
III,  p.  119,  1841.) 


26  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Mr.  Barrows,  writing  of  N.  maculosa  as  he  observed  it,  says  :  "  This 
tailless  little  bird,  hardly  bigger  than  Ortyx  virginianus,  is  an  abundant 
resident  bird  all  over  the  Argentine  Republic.  The  only  wonder  is  that 
it  continues  to  be  as  abundant,  for  it  is  easily  snared  in  many  ways,  and 
is  hunted  in  every  possible  manner,  while,  according  to  the  best  evidence 
at  hand,  it  rarely  lays  more  than  four  eggs  in  one  nest,  and  only  raises 
one  brood  in  the  season.  "Near  Bahia  Blanca,  I  found  a  nest  containing 
fresh  eggs  on  the  loth  of  February,  but  this  must  have  been  an  unusual 
case,  and  probably  due  to  accident.  The  eggs  are  laid  in  make-shift 
nests  on  the  ground  from  October  to  December."  (Barrows,  Auk,  pp. 
317,  318,  1884.) 

NOTHURA  DARWINI  Gray. 

Nothura  minor,  Darw.  (nee  Spix)  Voy.  "Beagle,"  Birds,  p.   119  (1841  : 

Bahia  Blanca). 

Nothura  darwini,  Gray,  List  Gall.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  104  (1867:  Bahia 
Blanca);  id.  Handb.  B.  III.  p.  5,  No.  9905  (1871);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S. 
1872,  p.  547,  note  (Rio  Negro);  Doering,  Expl.  al  Rio  Negro,  Zool. 
Aves,  p.  58  (1882:  Rios  Negro  &  Colorado) ;  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac. 
Buenos  Aires,  III.  Part  X.  p.  245  (1888:  Patagonia);  Scl.  &  Huds. 
Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  213,  pi.  XX  (1889)  I  Salvad.  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus. 
XXVII.  p.  562,  pi.  XIX  (1895);  Sharpe,  Hand-list  B.  I.  p.  11 
(1899)  ;  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  14  (1901). 
p  g  Perdiz  chicho,  Huds.  P.  Z.  S.  1872,  p.  547  (Rio 

Negro). 

Tinamus  darwini,  Gieb.  Thes.  Orn.  III.  p.  636  (1877). 
Nothura  maculosa.  Scl.  &  Huds.   (nee  Temm.),  P. 
Z.  S.    1872,  p.  547  (Rio  Negro) ;    Salvin,  Ibis, 
l873.    P-    131.  note;    Durnf.    Ibis,    1877,  p.   45 
(Chupat  Valley) ;  Schl.  Mus.  Pays  Bas,  Tinami, 
p.  44  (1880:  Patagonia);  Doering.  Expl.  al  Rio 
Negro,  Zool.  Aves,  p.  58  (1881  :  Rio  Colorado) ; 
**'*"*    da:wini-  Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  318  (1884:   Bahia  Blanca); 

Profile  head  and   neck.  ^  .,        r.T          .J 

%  natural  size  Burm.  An.  Mus.   Nac.  Buenos  Aires,   III.  part 

X.  p.  245  (1888:  N.   Patagonia);  Frenzel,  ].  f. 
O.  1891,  p.  124  (Cordoba). 


AVES TINAMID/E.  27 

Nothura  perdicaria,  Durnf.  (nee  Kittl.),  Ibis,  1878,  p.  405  (Chupat 
Valley  and  in  the  Valleys  of  the  Sengel  and  Sengelen) ;  Burm.  An. 
Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part  X.  p.  245  (1888:  Patagonia). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Male  Adult.  — Total  length,  about  10  inches. 

Wing,  5.2  inches. 

Culmen,  0.8  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.2  inches. 

The  adult  female  is  somewhat  larger  than  the  adult  male. 

Color.  Adult  Male. — Similar  in  markings  and  color  to  N.  maculosa, 
but  paler  and  grayer  below  and  without  the  clear  white  chin  and  upper 
throat.  Much  browner  and  darker  above  and  the  streaking  of  the  feathers 
not  whitish  but  fulvescent,  and  the  mesial  part  of  the  feathers  of  the  back 
chestnut  brown  and  the  barring  almost  black;  all  the  markings  as  the 
upper  parts  much  finer. 

Geographical  Range.  — Northern  Patagonia  and  the  Argentine  Republic. 


Darwin's  Tinamou  was  not  obtained  by  the  naturalists  of  the  Princeton 
Expeditions.  The  description  given  is  based  on  material  in  the  British 
Museum  of  Natural  History. 

Mr.  Hudson's  remarks  on  this  bird  and  its  habits  have  appeared  under 
the  last  species,  N.  maculosa,  as  they  seemed  more  pertinent  in  that  con- 
nection. 

Of  Nothura  minor  (=  Nothura  darwini]  Darwin  writes: 

"  I  procured  a  specimen  of  this  bird  at  Bahia  Blanca,  in  northern  Pata- 
gonia, where  it  frequented  the  sand-dunes  and  the  surrounding  sterile 
plains.  Its  habits  appear  similar  to  the  N.  major,  but  it  lies  closer  and 
does  not  so  readily  take  to  the  wing.  It  is  the  smallest  of  the  species 
mentioned  in  this  work,  and  its  plumage  is  less  distinctly  spotted.  The 
egg  of  this  bird  is  described  below.  Spix's  specimens  were  obtained  at 
Tijucco  in  Brazil.  The  figure  in  his  work  on  the  Birds  of  Brazil,  differs 
slightly  from  mine,  in  being  less  marked  on  the  breast."  (Darwin, 
"  Voy.  H.  M.  S.  Beagle,"  Zool.  Bds.,  1841,  p.  119.) 


28  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Subfamily   TINAMOTIDIN^.. 

Salvad.  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  Vol.  XXVII.  p.  566,   1895  ;  Sharpe,  Hand- 
List  Bds.  I.  p.  12  (1899). 


Genus  CALOPEZUS  Ridgway. 

Type. 

Eudromia,  Is.  Geoffr.,  Mag.  de  Zool.  1832,  Cl.  II.  text  to 

pi.  I  (1832)  (nee  Eudromias,  Boie) C.  elegans. 

Calodromas,  Sclat.  &  Salv.  Nom.  Av.  Neotrop.  pp.  153,  156 

(1873)  (nee  Calodromus,  Guerin,  1832) C.  elegans. 

Calopeztts,  Ridgw.  Pr.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.  II.  p.  97  (1884)  (= 

Calodromas}  ;  Salvadori,  Cat.   Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVII. 

p.   566  (1895);  Sharpe  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  12  (1899). 
Geographical  Range. — Argentine  Republic  and  lower  Uruguay. 


CALOPEZUS  ELEGANS  (d'Orbigny  &  Geoffrey  Saint-Hilaire). 

Perdix  martineta,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  31  (1805). 

Eudromia  elegans,  d'Orb.  &  Is.  Geoffr.  Mag.  de  Zool.  1832,  pi.  I  (Pata- 
gonia);  Fraser,  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  P-  116  (Mendoza)  ;  Hartl.  Ind.  Azara, 
p.  21  (1847);  Bp.  C.  R.  XLII.  p.  88 1  (1856)  ;  Burm.  J.  f.  O.  1858, 
p.  161,  1860,  p.  259;  id.  La  Plata  Reise  II.  p.  498  (1861  :  San  Luis 
Mendoza)  ;  Gray,  Handl.  B.  III.  p.  6  no.  9910  (1871)  ;  Scl.  &  Huds. 
P.  Z.  S.  1872,  pp.  547,  549  (Rio  Negro)  ;  Leyb.  Excurs.  Pamp. 
Argent,  p.  —  (1873);  Martins,  J.  f.  O.  1875,  p.  443;  Doering,  Expl. 
al  Rio  Negro,  Zool.  Aves,  p.  58  (1882:  Rios  Negro  &  Colorado) ; 
Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Ajres  III.  Part  X.  p.  245  (1888  :  Pata- 
gonia), Part  XI.  p.  318  (1890:  Chupat  Valley). 

Tinamotis  elegans,  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  525  (1844)  ;  Bridges,  P.  Z.  S. 
1847,  P-  28  (Mendoza). 

Tinanms  (Eudromia]  elegans,  Schl.  Handl.  Dierk.  I.  p.  399  (1857). 

Tinamus  elegans,  Schl.  Dierent.  p.  233  (1864). 

Calodromas  elegans,  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  153  (1873); 
Durnf.  Ibis,  1877,  p.  45  (Chupat  Valley),  1878,  p.  406  (Chupat  Val- 
ley, resident);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1879,  p.  311  (eggs);  id.  Voy.  Chall.  II. 


AVES TINAMID^E.  29 

Birds,  p.  152  (1881);  Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  318  (1884:  Bahia  Blanca); 
Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  214  (1889);  Frenzel,  J.  f.  O.  1891, 
p.  124  (Cordoba);  Scl.  Bull.  Brit.  Orn.  Club,  V.  p.  XXIX  (1893), 
Ibis,  1893,  p.  256;  Aplin,  Ibis,  1894,  p.  213  (Uruguay,  not  observed); 
Scl.  t.  c.  p.  453. 

Calopezus  elegans,  Ridgw.  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.  II.  p.  97  (1884);  Sal- 
vad.  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVII.  p.  566  (1895);  Sharpe,  Hand-List, 
B.  I.  p.  12  (1899);  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  14  (1901); 
Oust.  C.  R.  Congr.  Orn.  III.  p.  196  (1901 :  breeding  at  S.  Maria,  N. 
Patagonia);  Prich.  Thr.  Heart  Patagonia,  p.  49  (1902). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.  — Total  length,  14.5  inches. 

Wing,  8.5  inches. 

Tail,  3.25  inches. 

Culmen,  i.i  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.9  inches. 

Color.  —  Head,  grayish.     A   dusky  or   black    median  streak  on  each 

FIG.   17.  FIG.  1 8. 


Calopeziis  elegans.     Profile.  Calopezus  elegans.     Head  and  bill 

y^  natural  size.  from  above. 

feather.  A  recurved  vertical  crest  of  dark  brown  or  black  feathers,  some 
of  which  are  edged  with  cinereous.  Two  whitish  buff  bands  start  from 
the  region  above  the  eye  and  run  backward  along  the  sides  of  the  head. 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 


A  similar  band  proceeds  from  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible  across  the 
sides  of  the  face  below  the  eye. 

Neck  :  Grayish.  The  two  buffy  white  face  streaks  prolonged  down- 
ward on  the  upper  neck.  Each  feather  of  the  gray  parts  of  the  back  of 
the  neck  has  a  dusky  median  stripe,  and  on  the  under  neck  each  feather 
has  in  addition  two  paler  buffy  stripes  laterally  and  numerous  obscure 
dusky  cross  bars. 

Back :  Grayish,  profusely  banded  and  spotted,  with  dusky  or  black  and 
pale  fulvous,  the  latter  spots  being  round,  well  defined  and  conspicuous. 

Wings :  Primaries  blackish,  spotted  on  the  outer  web  and  barred  on 
the  inner  web  with  light  buff,  or  white  with  a  buffy  tinge.  The  second- 
aries are  barred  on  both  webs. 

Tail :  Dusky,  barred  with  darker  or  black  and  also  with  white  with  a 
strong  buff  tinge. 

Lower  parts :  Generally  buffy  white,  marked  with  many  blackish  cres- 
cent-shaped bars,  except  on  the  abdomen  which  is  almost  uniform  in 
color.  "Bill  blackish,"  feet  bluish  gray  (Sclater). 

The  sexes  are  similar  in  appearance  and  color. 

Geographical  Range. — Southern  South  America,  from  southern  Uru- 
guay, throughout  western  Argentina  and  Patagonia. 

The  Princeton  Expeditions  did  not  meet  with  this  species  and  the  above 
description  is  from  material  in  the  British  Museum,  and  from  three  speci- 
mens in  the  Princeton  University  Museum  cited  in  detail  below. 


P.  U.  O.  C. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

8,645. 
8,646. 

8,816. 

Male. 
Female. 
Male. 

Bahia  Blanca,  Argentina. 
Bahia  Blanca,  Argentina. 
Province  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina. 

August,  1895. 
August,  1895. 
September,  1899. 

S.  Pozzi. 
S.  Pozzi. 
Museode  La  Plata. 

The  British  Museum  has  lately  acquired  a  series  of  males  and  females 
of  this  species  from  Colhue-huapi,  Chubut;  collected,  from  July  22  to 
August  9,  1902,  by  J.  Koslowsky. 

Mr.  Barrows  says  of  the  "martinete  "  (a  term  applied  in  Spain  to  a  heron 
or  its  plume.  Here  it  undoubtedly  refers  to  the  long  feathers  of  the  crest), 
that  unlike  the  species  just  described,  this  one  is  always  found  in  small 
parties,  and  usually  running  in  single  file.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Bahia 
Blanca  it  was  not  uncommon,  but  it  was  not  elsewhere  met  with,  being 
confined  pretty  rigidly  to  the  shrubby  country  bordering  the  pampas  on 


AVES TINAMID^E.  31 

the  south  and  west.  The  eggs  are  polished,  but  of  a  greenish  tint,  and 
are  said  to  be  commonly  five  or  six  in  number.  The  flesh  is  fairly  palata- 
ble. (Barrows,  Auk,  I,  4,  p.  318,  1884.) 


Genus  TINAMOTIS  Vigors. 

Type. 

Tinamotis,  Vigors,  P.  Z.  S.  1836,  p.  79;  Salvad.  Cat.  Birds, 
Brit.  Mus.  XXVII.  p.  567  (1895);  Sharpe,  Hand-List 

Bds.  I.  12  (1899) T.  pentlandi. 

Geographical  Range. — South  America.     From  the  Andes  of  Peru  and 

Ecuador,  southward  to  northern  Chile  and  also  northern  Patagonia. 


TINAMOTIS  INGOUFI  Oustalet. 

Tinamotis  ingoufi,  Oust.  Ann.  Sc.  Nat.  Zool.  IX.  p.  18  (1890:  Santa 
Cruz,  Patagonia)  ;  id.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  105,  106, 
pi.  i  (1891);  Salvad.  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVII.  p.  569  (1895); 
Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  12  (1899). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.  —  (Female  type.)     Total  length,  15.5  inches. 

Wing,  8.0  inches.  FlG 

Tail,  2.75  inches. 

Culmen,  i.o  inch. 

Tarsus,  1.25  inches. 

Color.  —  (Female  type.)  Upper  parts 
slaty  with  a  buff  tinge,  each  feather  having 
a  V-shaped  brown  mark  of  varying  size, 
bounded  by  a  narrow  creamy  buff  margin. 

Head  :  With  dusky  slate  and  buffy  white  01 
stripes.  Upper  part  of  head  dusky  slate,  ' 
with  a  buffy  white  band  on  either  side  join- 

Tinamotis  ingoufi.     Profile  and  pat- 

ing  on  the  occiput.  tern  of  marking  of  head  and  neck    ^ 

Throat :   Buffy  white,  with  dusky   slate    naturai  size. 
spots. 


32  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Neck :  Two  buffy  white  stripes  on  each  side,  one  beginning  above  and 
the  other  below  the  eye  proceed  down  each  side  of  the  neck.  A  single 
dusky  slate  stripe  on  the  back  of  the  neck,  and  one  on  each  side  of  the 
neck  between  the  buffy  white  stripes.  Back  and  wing  coverts  :  Slate  with 
the  V-shaped  marks  of  brown  having  narrow  creamy  buff  borders,  con- 
spicuous. 

Wings  :  Primary  quills,  uniform  bright  cinnamon.  Secondaries,  bright 
cinnamon  with  dusky  markings,  not  bands. 

Tail :  Coverts  like  back.  Feathers  slaty  olive  with  irregular  barring 
and  markings  of  creamy  buff. 

Lower  parts  :  Upper  breast  much  like  back  with  similar  V-shaped  marks 
to  each  feather.  These  are  more  slaty  and  the  narrow  cream  buff  border- 
ing is  paler.  Lower  breast :  Paler,  almost  white  as  to  ground  color,  with 
dusky  crescent  marks  on  each  feather.  Lower  abdomen  and  under  tail 
coverts  pale  rufous. 

Feet  lead  color. 

Iris  pale  yellow. 

Geographical  Range. — The  type,  the  only  representative  so  far  known, 
was  taken  in  eastern  Patagonia,  in  the  vicinity  of  Santa  Cruz,  18  October, 
1882,  by  M.  Lebrun. 


The  type  of  this  species  described  by  Dr.  E.  Oustalet  is,  so  far  as  yet  ascer- 
tained the  only  specimen  in  any  of  the  collections  made  in  South  America. 
I  have  by  the  courtesy  of  the  authorities  of  the  Paris  Museum,  Jardin  des 
Plantes,  been  able  to  examine  carefully  and  study  the  characters  of  this 
little-known  bird. 

While  in  certain  ways  it  betrays  its  relationship  to  Tinamotis  pentlandi, 
its  close  ally,  yet  as  pointed  out  both  by  Dr.  Oustalet  and  Count  Salvadori, 
it  is  readily  distinguishable  from  that  species  by  its  uniform  bright  cinna- 
mon primary  quills. 


Order  COLUMBIFORMES. 

Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  Vol.  I.  p.  51  (1899). 


AVES COLUMBID^E.  33 

Suborder  COLUMB^. 

Salvador!,  Cat.  Birds,  Brit.   Mus.  XXI.  p.  2  (1893);  Sharpe,  Hand-List 
Bds.  I.  p.  51  (1899). 

Family  COLUMBID.E. 
Salvad.  t.  c.  p.  240. 

Subfamily  COLUMBINE. 
Salvad.  t.  c.  p.  240. 

Genus  COLUMBA  Linnaeus. 

Type. 

Columoa,  Linn.   S.  N.  I.  p.  279  (1766);  Salvadori, 

Cat.    Bds.    Brit.    Mus.    XXI.    p.    241    (1893); 

Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  68  (1899).        .     .     C.  lima. 
Palumbtts,  Kaup,  Natiirl.  Syst.  p.  107  (1829  .     .     .     C.  palumbus. 
Les  Picazuros,  Less.  Compl.  de  Buff  VIII.  p.  95 

(1837)- 

Alsocomus,  "Tickell,"J.  A.  S.  B.  XI.  I.  p.  461  (1842).     C.  punicea. 
Dendrotreron,  Hodgs.  in  Gray's  Zool.  Misc.  p.  85 

(1844) ; C.  hodgsoni. 

Patagicenas  Rchnb.  Av.  Syst.  Nat.  pi.  XXX  (1852).     C.  leucocephala. 

Lepidcenas,  ibid C.  speciosa. 

Litkcenas,  Rchnb.  ibid .     .     C.  lima. 

Tcenicenas,  Rchnb.  ibid C.  albitorques. 

Chlorcznas,  Rchnb.  ibid C.  fasciata. 

Stictcenas,  Rchnb.  ibid.    .     .     .     ...    .     .     .     .     .     .     C.  arquatrix. 

Janthcenas,  Rchnb.  ibid. C  ianthina. 

Picazurus,   Chenu    &    Des  Murs  (1853),   fide  Des 

Murs  in  Chenu,  Enc.  d'Hist  Nat.  Ois.  VI.  p. 

39  (1854?) C.  picazuro. 

Strictcenas  (errore?),    Des   Murs   in    Chenu,     Enc. 

d'Hist.    Nat.  Ois.  VI.   p.  40  (1854?)   (=Stic- 

tosnas] . 

Leucomelcena,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  II.  p.  44  (1854).  .     .     C.  leucomela. 
Janthcenas,  Bp.  op.  cit.  p.  44  (1854)  (=  Janthanas}. 
Trocaza,    Bp.    op.    cit.    p.    45    (1854);    id.    Compt. 

Rend.  XXXIX.  p.  1104(1854) C.  trocaz. 


34  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 

Columba,  subgen.  Pahtmbcena,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  II. 

p.  49  (1854) C.  cenas. 

Tcenicenas,  Bp.  op.  cit.  p.  49  (1854)  (=  Tcznicenas}. 

Crossophthalmus,  Bp.  op.  cit.  p.  55  (1854)    .     .     .     C.  gymnophthalme. 

Chlorcenas,  Bp.  Ann.  Sc.  Nat.  Zool.  (2),  I.  p.  140, 

n.  1659  b  (1854)  (=Chlorcenas). 
Stictcenas,  Bp.  ibid.  n.  1660(1854)  (=  Stictcenas}. 
Patagicenas,  Bp.  ibid.  n.    1661    (1854)   (=  Patagice- 

nas] 

Lepidcenas,  Bp.  ibid.  n.  1662  (1854)  (=  Lepidcznas}. 
Leucomelcena,  Bp.  Compt.  Rend.  XXXIX.  p.  1104 

(1854)  (=  Leucomekena.} 
Palumbcena,   Bp.    Compt   Rend.    XLIII.    pp.   838, 

948  (1856) C.  cenas. 

Leucomelaina,    Rchnb.    Tauben    I.    p.    52    (1862) 

(=  Leucomelcena]. 

Leiwotcenia,  Rchnb.  Tauben,  II.  p.  167  (1862)    .     .     C.  unicincta. 
Dendrophaps  (ubi?)  fide  G.  R.  Gr.  Hand-List,  II.  p. 

233  (1870)  (Dendrotreron,} 
Columba,  subgen.  Rupicola,  Bogd.  Cons.  Av.  Imp. 

Ross.  fasc.  I.  p.  1.  (1884) C.  livid. 

Columba,    subgen.   Sylvicola,    Bogd.    op.    cit.    p.    3 

(1884) C.  cenas? 

Ccelotreron,   Heine,  Nomencl.   Mus.   Hein.   Orn.   p. 

275  (1890)   (=  Palumboznas]. 
Patagoznas,   Heine,  op.  cit.  p.  276  (1890)   (=  Pata- 

gicenas]. 
Geographical  Range. — Throughout  the  world. 


COLUMBA  MACULOSA  Temminck. 

Palomacobijas  manchadas,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  10  (1805). 

Columba  maculosa,  Temm.   Pig.  et  Gallin.  I.  pp.  113,  450  (1813);  Gray, 

Gen.  B.  II.  p.  470  (1844);  Hartl.  Ind.  Azara,  p.  20  (1847);  Scl.  P. 

Z.  S.   1865,  p.    239;   id.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.    143,    1869,  p. 

600;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1870,  p.  665;  id.  &  Huds.  P.  Z.  S.    1872,  pp. 


AVES COLUMBID^E.  35 

• 

545,  549  (Rio  Negro);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  132 
(1873:  pt.)  ;  Leyb.  Excurs.  Pamp.  Argent,  p.  89  (1873);  Durnf. 
Ibis,  1877,  p.  42  (Chupat  Valley,  breeds),  p.  193  (Baradero,  April, 
common)  ;  1878,  p.  401  (central  Patagonia,  common  resident)  ; 
White,  P.  Z.  S.  1882,  p.  626  (Fuerte  de  Andagala,  Catamarca, 
Sept.)  ;  Doering,  Expl.  al  Rio  Negro,  Zool.  Aves,  p.  55  (1882  : 
Carhue:  Rios  Colorado  &  Negro);  Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  274  (1884: 
Concepcion,  common  resident,  breeds  in  Nov.) ;  Gibson,  Ibis,  1885, 
p.  282  ;  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  Part  X.  p.  245 
(1888:  Northern  Patagonia);  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p. 
140  (1889)  ;  Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  p.  328,  part 
(1891);  Huds.  Idle  Days  in  Patag.  pp.  80,  125  (1893);  Salvad. 
Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXI.  p.  273  (1893);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p. 
70  (1899)  ;  Prich.  Thr.  Heart  Patagonia,  p.  158  (1902). 

Columba  paciloptera,  Vieill.  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  XXVI.  p.  344  (1818: 
ex  Azara);  D'Orb.  Voy.  II.  pp.  303,  318  (1844). 

Columba  maculipennis,  Licht.  in  Mus.  Berol.,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  II.  p.  55 

(1854). 
Columba  gymnophthalmos,  Reichenb.    (nee  Temm.)  Syn.  Av.  fig.    1268 

(1847)- 
Pahimbus  gymnophthalmos,  Reichenb.  Av.  Syst.  Nat.  p.  xxv  (1852). 

Crossophthalmus  reichenbachi,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  II.  p.  55  (1854). 
Patagioenas  maculosa,  Burm.  La  Plata  Reis.  II.  p.  496  (1861:  Mendoza 

Cordova;  Tucuman);  Frenz.  J.  f.  O.  1891,  p.  123  (Cordoba). 
Picazuros  maculosa,  Gray,  Handl.  B.  II.  p.  235,  no.  9267  (1870). 
Crossophthalmus  maculosits,  Pelz.  Orn.  Bras.  p.  274  note  (1871);  Heine 

&  Reichen.  Nomencl.  Mus.  Hein.  p.  276  (1890). 
Chloranas  fa/lax,  Schl.   Mus.   Pays.   Bas.   Columbae,  p.   80   (1873:   Rio 

Negro). 
Patagcenas  maculosa,  Carbajal,  La  Patagonia,  Part  II.  p.  269  (1900). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Total  length,  about  14  inches. 

Wing,  from  8.75  to  9.3  inches. 

Tail,  5  inches. 

Bill,  from  0.50  to  0.55  inches. 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 


FIG.  20. 


Tarsus,  i.i  inches. 

Color. — General  color  above  dusky  or  sooty  brown,  below  dove  gray 
with  a  strong  tinge  of  vinaceous. 

Head  :  Gray  with  vinous  tinge,  the  sides  and  cheeks  darker  and  lacking 
any  vinaceous  shading. 

Neck :  Gray,  with  a  vinaceous  tint. 

Back :  Entire  mouth,  the  scapular  and  upper  wing-coverts  dusky  brown, 
or  sooty,  tipped  with  white  triangular  spots,  most  conspicuous  on  the 
upper  coverts.  The  outer  greater  wing-coverts  are  gray  with  a  strong 
bluish  tinge,  and  bordered  with  white ;  their  tips, 
the  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  are  deep  lead  color. 

Wings  :  Primary  and  secondary  quills  deep  dusky 
gray  with  narrow  white  edging.  The  under  sides  of 
the  wings  are  light  lead  color. 

Tail :  Deep  lead  color  with  a  black  terminal  band. 
Lower  parts :  The  entire  lower  parts  except  the  under 
tail  coverts,  are  gray  dove  color,  with  a  vinous  tint. 
The  under  tail  coverts  are  deep  lead  color. 
"Iris   white  or  light  slate"  (White).     "Beak  grey; 
legs  red"  (A.  Peel). 

The  sexes  are  similar  in  appearance. 
Geographical  Range.  —  Uruguay,   Argentine   Republic   and   northern 
Patagonia.  » 


I 


Columba  maculosa 
Profile  of  head  and 
neck.  2A  natural  size. 


This  bird  is  not  represented  in  the  collections  made  by  the  Princeton 
Expeditions  and  the  descriptions  here  given  are  based  on  specimens  in 
the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History,  and  on  a  single  individual  in 
the  Princeton  University  Museum. 


P.  U.  O.  C.  No. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

I. 

Male. 

La  Rioya,  Argentina. 

February,  1895. 

Museo  de  La  Plata. 

Barrows  says  of  this  pigeon  : 

"A  common  resident  at  Concepcion,  where  it  is  found  in  large  flocks 
through  the  year.  Many  nests  were  found  early  in  November,  all  placed 
in  trees  in  dry  woods,  and  only  ten  or  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground. 


AVES COLUMBID.-E.  37 

"Each  nest  contained  a  single  white  egg.  Either  the  variation  in  size 
of  the  eggs  of  this  species  is  very  great,  or  else  a  few  of  the  preceding 
species  were  breeding  with  them ;  for  several  eggs  were  found  which  were 
very  much  larger  than  the  others.  I  failed,  however,  to  detect  a  single 
specimen  of  C.  picazuro  among  the  birds  which  left  the  trees  as  we  ap- 
proached. This  species  was  again  met  with  at  Carhue."  (Barrows,  Auk, 
I,  No.  4,  p.  274,  75,  July,  1884.) 

Of  this  pigeon  as  he  saw  it  in  Patagonia  Mr.  Hudson  writes: 
"This  bird  appears  in  winter  in  the  settled  parts  of  the  Rio  Negro; 
they  come  in  large  flocks,  and  gather  in  great  numbers  on  the  ploughed 
fields,  eager  to  devour  the  wheat ;  so  that  the  farmers,  when  sowing  broad- 
cast, have  to  be  constantly  firing  at  them,  or  to  keep  trained  dogs  to  chase 
them  from  the  fields.  When  on  the  ground,  the  flock  keeps  very  much 
crowded  together,  all  the  birds  running  with  great  rapidity,  and  eagerly 
snatching  up  the  grain  or  seed  they  find.  The  lively,  brisk  manner  of 
the  Patagonian  Pigeon  is  in  strong  contrast  with  the  slow,  stately  steps 
and  deliberate  manner  of  picking  up  its  food  of  the  Buenos-Ayrean 
species  (/.  e.,  Columba  picasuro :  v.  Scl.  et  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.,  1868,  p.  143 
—  P.  L.  S.) ;  but  the  voice  of  the  former  is  exceedingly  hoarse,  while  that 
of  the  latter  is  the  most  agreeable  dove-melody  I  have  ever  heard." 
(Hudson,  P.  Z.  S.,  1872,  p.  545.) 

COLUMBA  ARAUCANA  Lesson. 

Cohimba  araucana,  Less.  Voy.  Coq.  Zool.  p.  706,  pi.   40  (1828)  ;  Gray, 

Gen.  B.  II.  p.  470  (1844);  Des  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I. 

p.  376  (1847);  Harti.  Naum.  1853,  pp.  215,  221   (Valdivia) ;  Bibra, 

Denkschr.  Ak.  Wien.  V.  p.    130  (1853);  Cass.   U.   S.  Expl.  Exped. 

Birds,  p.  254  (1858:  Chile) ;  Pelz.  Novara  Reise,  Vog.  p.  108  (1865) ; 

Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867,  pp.  330,  339  (Chile)  ;  id.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av. 

Neotr.  p.   132  (1873);   James,  New    List    Chil.    B.    p.    10    (1892); 

Salvad.  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXI.  p.  296  (1893);  Lataste,  Actes  Soc. 

Scient.  Chile,  III.  p.  cxv  (1893:  Cordilliere  d' Andes) ;  Schalow.  Zool. 

Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  671    (1898:  eggs)  ;  Sharpe,   Hand-List  B.  I.  p. 

71  (1899)  ;  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  89  (1901). 
Columba  denisea,  Temm.  PI.  Col.  pi.  502  (1830:  Chile);  Less.  Rev.  Zool. 

1842,  p.  209  (Valdivia:  Chile)  ;  Schl.  Mus.  Pays  Bas.  Columbae,  p.  67 

(1873)- 


38  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 

Columba fitzroyii,  King,  P.  Z.  S.  1830,  p.  15  (Chiloe  Island);  Darw.  Voy. 

"Beagle,"  Birds,  p.  114  (1841  :  Peninsula  of  Tres Monies,  Valparaiso) ; 

Fraser,  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  p.  115  (Andes  of  Chile). 
Columba  meridionals,  Peale  (nee  King),  U.  S.  Expl.  Exped.  Birds,  p. 

in    (1848:   Rio  Negro,  Patagonia)  ;  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos 

Ayres,  III.  Part  X.  p.  245  (1888:   Southern  Patagonia,  Straits  of 

Magellan). 

Chlorcenas  denisea,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  II.  p.  51  (1854). 
Chlorcenas  araucana,    Heine  &  Reichen.   Nomencl.  Mus.   Hein.  p.  277 

(1890). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Total  length,  about  16  inches. 

Wing,  8.5  inches. 

Tail,  5.5  inches. 

Bill,  0.65  inch. 

Tarsus,  1.25  inches. 

Color. — General  color  throughout  chestnut  with  a  vinaceous  tinge. 

Head  :   Vinous  chestnut. 

Neck  :  Vinous  chestnut,  with  a  whitish  band  on  the  nape.  The  feathers 
of  the  head  and  neck  shaded  with  metallic  bronzy-green. 

Back  vinous  chestnut.  Rump  lead  color.  Upper  tail  coverts  :  The 
basal  upper  tail  coverts  are  like  the  rump,  but  the  longer  upper  tail 
coverts  are  gray  with  a  strong  tinge  of  brown. 

Wings :  Scapulary  vinous  chestnut.  The  wing  coverts  are  grayish 
brown,  lightest  on  the  outer  and  greater  coverts.  The  quills  are  dusky 
or  blackish  with  narrow  whitish  margins. 

Tail :  Lead  color,  with  a  subterminal  band  of  black,  and  a  terminal 
band  a  little  less  than  an  inch  broad,  like  the  body  color  of  the  tail. 

Lower  parts  :  Generally  vinous  chestnut,  the  breast  with  an  iridescent 
amethyst  tinge.  The  under  wing  coverts  and  sides  lead  color. 

"Iris  red-yellow;  bill  black;  feet  dark  rose-red  "  (Philippi,  fide  Hart- 
laub)  ;  Salvadori,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  XXI,  p.  296  (1895). 

The  female  is  similar  to  the  male  and  young  or  immature  birds  lack 
the  whitish  band  on  the  nape  of  the  neck. 

Geographical  Range. — Central  Peru,  Chile  and  Patagonia  to  the  Straits 
of  Magellan. 


AVES PERISTERID^E.  39 

The  above  description  is  based  on  material  in  the  British  Museum  of 
Natural  History,  as  this  form  was  not  secured  by  the  naturalists  of  the 
expeditions  sent  out  by  Princeton  University  to  Patagonia. 


Family   PERISTERID^E. 

Salvad.  Cat.  Birds,  Brit.  Mus.  XXI.  p.  372  (1893);  Sharpe,  Hand-List 
Bds.  I.  p.  76  (1899). 

Subfamily  ZENAIDIN^. 
Salvad.  t.  c.  p.  372;  Sharpe,  t.  c.  p.  76. 

Genus  ZENAIDA  Bonaparte. 

Type. 

Zenaida,  Bp.  Comp.  List,  p.  41  (1838);  Salvadori,  Cat. 
Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXI.  p.  379  (1893);  Sharpe,  Hand- 
List  Bds.  I.  p.  76  (1899) Z.  amabilis. 

Stenurcena  (subgen.)  Rchnb.  Tauben,  I.  p.  20  (1862).     .     .     Z.  stenura. 

Platypterozna  (subgen.)  Rchnb.  Tauben,  I.  p.  20  (1862). 

Z.  pentheria  (  =  nificauda?]. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Florida  Keys,  throughout  the  Antilles,  Yucatan, 
and  southward  in  South  America  throughout  Chile  and  northern  Patagonia. 

ZENAIDA  AURICULATA  (Des  Murs). 

Paloma  parda  manchada,  Azara,  Apunt.  I.  p.  17  (1802). 

Columba  attrita,  part,  Temm.  Pig.  et  Gallin.  I.  pp,  247,  467  (1813). 

Cohimba  maculata,  Vieill.  (nee  Gm.)  Enc.  Meth.  I.  p.  376  (1823);  Burm. 
La  Plata  Reise,  I.  p.  306  (1861). 

Columba  meridionalis,  King  (nee  Lath.)  Zool.  Journ.  IV.  p.  92  (1828: 
Straits  of  Magellan);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867,  pp.  330,  339  (Chile). 

Columba  aurita,  Licht.  (nee  Temm.)  Verz.  Doubl.  p.  66  (1823:  Monte- 
video); Darw.  Voy.  "Beagle,"  Birds,  p.  115  (1841). 

Zenaida  atmta,  Fraser  (nee  Temm.)  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  p.  115  (Chile);  Hartl. 
Ind.  Azara,  p.  20  (1847);  id.  Naum.  1853,  p.  21  (Valdivia);  Leyb. 
Excurs.  Pamp.  Argent,  pp.  49,52  (1873);  Macfarl.  Ibis,  1887,  p.  202 


4O  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

(Coquimbo) ;  Phil.  Ornis.  IV.  p.  159  (1888:  Atacama);  Lataste,  Actes 
Soc.  Scient.  Chile,  III.  p.  cxv  (1893:  Nuble  foot  of  Cordilleras,  Chile, 
Nov.). 

Peristera  auriculata,  Des  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chile,  I.  Zool.  p.  381,  pi.  6 
(1847);  Hartl.  Naum.  1853,  p.  221  (Valdivia). 

Peristera  chrysaiichenia,  Reichenb.  Syn.  Av.  pi.  fig.  1429  (1847). 

Zenaida  chilensis,  "  Bonap."  Reichenb.  Syn.  Av.  Columb.  pi  245 B,  figs. 
3529-30  (1851). 

Chlorcenas  meridionalis,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  II.  p.  52  (1854:  Straits  of  Ma- 
gellan). 

Zenaida  auriculata,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  II.  p.  82  (1854);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867, 
pp.  330,  339  (Chile) ;  Heine  &  Reichen.  Nomencl.  Mus.  Hein.  p. 
284  (1889:  Chile);  Salvad.  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXI.  p.  384  (1893); 
id.  Boll.  Mus.  Torino,  1887,  No.  12,  p.  32;  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb. 
Suppl.  IV.  p.  671  (1898:  Santiago);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  77 
(1899)  ;  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  93  (1901). 

Zenaida  maculata,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  II.  p.  82  (1854);  Burm.  La  Plata 
Reis.  II.  p.  497  (1861);  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  143  (Conchi- 
tas) ;  Sternb.  J.  f.  O.  1869,  pp.  193,  273  (Buenos  Ayres) ;  Holtz,  J. 
f.  O.  1870,  p.  19  (eggs);  Gray,  Handl.  B.  II.  p.  241,  No.  9352 
(1870);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  132  (1873);  Huds.  P. 
Z.  S.  1874,  p.  170  (Patagonia);  Durnf.  Ibis,  1876,  p.  163  (Buenos 
Ayres,  Aug.),  1877,  P-  !93  (Baradero,  April,  common);  Gibson,  Ibis, 
1880,  p.  8  (Cape  San  Antonio,  Buenos  Ayres,  breeds  Sept.  to  March) ; 
Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  9  (Coquimbo);  Doering,  Expl.  al  Rio 
Negro,  Zool.  Aves,  p.  55  (1881  :  abundant  in  the  valleys  of  the  Rio 
Negro  and  the  Rio  Colorado) ;  White,  P.  Z.  S.  1882,  p.  626  (Fuerte 
de  Andegala,  Catamarca,  Aug.):  Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  275  (1884: 
Concepcion  abundant  throughout  the  year,  but  not  observed  breed- 
ing);  Gibson,  Ibis,  1885,  p.  282  (Uruguay);  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac. 
Buenos  Aires,  III.  Part  X.  p.  245  (1888:  Patagonia) :  id.  Part  XI.  p. 
318  (1890:  Rio  Chico) ;  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  141 
(1889);  Holland,  Ibis,  1890,  p.  425  (Buenos  Ayres);  Frenzel,  J.  f. 
O.  1891,  p.  123  (Cordoba);  Holland,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  207  (Estancia 
Espartilla,  resident  breeds  Sept.  to  Feb.) ;  James,  New  List  Chile  B. 
p.  10  (1892)  ;  Huds.  Idle  Days  in  Patagonia,  p.  125  (1893);  Carba- 
jal,  La  Patagonia,  Part  II.  p.  269  (1900). 


AVES PERISTERID/E.  x   41 

'    Colnmba  (Zenaida)  aiirita,  Burm.  J.  f.  O.  1858,  p.  160  (Mendoza). 


FIG.  21. 


Zenaida  auriculata.    Pro- 
file head  and  neck.     Natural 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Total  length,  9  to  10  inches. 

Wing,  5.5  to  6.25  inches. 

Tail,  3.75  to  4.5  inches. 

Bill,  0.55  to  0.6  inches. 

Tarsus,  0.85  to  0.9  inches. 

The  female  is  smaller  than  the  male. 

Color.  —  General  coloration  throughout  vinous 
dove  color.  Lightest  below  and  darkest  above. 

Head:  Crown  of  head  and  occiput  grayish,  the 
rest  vinous  dove  color  with  a  metallic  blackish 
blue  spot  behind  the  eye,  and  a  larger  spot,  some- 
what elongate  in  shape  below  the  ear  coverts. 

Neck  vinous  dove  color,  with  an  area  on  each 
side  of  metallic  purple  having  golden  iridescence 
and  reflections. 

Back  and  upper  parts  heavily  shaded  into  olive  brown. 

Wings  :  Coverts  olive  brown  like  back.  There  are  many  irregular  black 
spots  of  variable  size  on  the  outer  webs  of  the  inner  upper  wing  coverts, 
and  on  the  outer  webs  of  scapulars  and  tertials.  The  quills  are  dusky 
brown  with  narrow  lighter  brown  and  buffy  edges  on  their  outer  webs 
and  tips. 

Tail,  from  above :  Two  middle  feathers  like  the  back,  with  an  indication 
of  a  subterminal  black  bar.  The  next  two  gray  with  a  strong  brownish 
tinge  and  a  marked  subterminal  black  bar.  The  rest  grayish  with  some 
brownish  washing,  and  subterminal  black  bars.  The  tips  in  these  is 
clear  gray,  with  a  tendency  to  become  whitish  which  grows  stronger, 
culminating  in  the  two  outer  ones.  The  outer  feather  is  tipped  broadly 
with  white  and  its  outer  web  is  white,  breaking  the  subterminal  black 
bar.  The  second  feather  of  the  tail  has  simply  a  broad  grayish  white  tip. 
From  below  the  tail  unopened  appears  black  with  a  broad  white  tip. 

Lower  parts  :  vinous  dove  color  paling  almost  to  white  on  the  throat ; 
the  sides,  flanks  and  under  wing  coverts  are  dove  gray;  and  the  under 
tail  coverts  and  abdomen  are  decidedly  buffy  in  color. 


42  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 

The  female  is  noticeably  darker  both  above,  below  and  on  the  head, 
which  lacks  the  gray  crown  and  occiput  of  the  male.  "Bill  black;  part 
of  a  red  flesh-colour"  (Burmeister). 

A  young  male,  7,923  Princeton  University  Collection,  taken  at  Rio 
Chico,  Patagonia,  12  March,  1898,  is  in  the  first  plumage.  This  bird  is 
grayer  below  and  darker  above  than  are  adults  and  the  vinous  dove  color 
of  more  advanced  age  is  lacking.  The  feathers  on  the  breast  and  neck 
are  tipped  narrowly  with  light  cinnamon  giving  a  slightly  scaled  ap- 
pearance. The  upper  coverts  of  the  wings  are  tipped  in  a  like  manner. 
There  is  a  decided  whitish  area  in  front  of  each  eye.  The  feathers  of  the 
crown  are  tipped  with  bright  rufous.  This  color  is  also  conspicuous  on  the 
shoulders,  and  while  the  dark  spots  of  the  inner  upper  wing  coverts, 
scapulars  and  tertials  are  apparent,  they  are  not  well  denned  and  all  of 
these  feathers  are  strongly  marked  with  bright  rufous  in  an  irregular  way. 
The  edging  of  the  wing  quills  is  rufous  or  deep  buff.  The  tail  is  like  that 
of  the  adult.  The  blackish  blue  spots  back  of  the  eye  and  below  in  ear 
are  not  apparent.  There  are  no  iridescent  areas  on  the  neck.  The  bird 
is  full  grown. 

An  older  bird,  also  a  young  male,  8,302  Princeton  University  collection, 
taken  at  Santa  Cruz,  Patagonia,  15  February,  1898,  is  much  like  an 
adult,  but  many  feathers  on  the  breast,  back  and  shoulders  have  median 
silvery  white  triangular  markings.  The  throat  and  forehead  in  this  bird 
are  whitish  and  a  few  feathers  on  the  crown  have  the  same  median  mark- 
ings already  referred  to.  The  blackish  blue  spots  behind  the  eye  and 
below  the  ear  are  indicated  but  are  not  so  conspicuous  as  in  the  adult. 
The  iridescent  areas  of  the  neck  are  faintly  indicated. 

Geographical  Range. — South  America.  From  Ecuador  southward  on 
the  west,  and  on  the  east  from  Fernando  de  Noronha  to  Brazil,  the 
Argentine  Republic  and  Patagonia,  probably  to  the  Straits  of  Magellan. 


The  collections  made  by  Mr.  J.  B.  Hatcher  for  Princeton  University 
include  five  of  these  birds,  but  there  is  no  adult  male  bird  represented. 
The  description  of  the  adult  male  is  based  upon  material  in  the  British 
Museum  of  Natural  History,  and  that  from  the  Museo  de  La  Plata,  and  S. 
Pozzi  collections  in  the  Princeton  University  Museum.  Mr.  Hatcher  in 
his  MSS.  notes  says  of  this  dove  "common  along  valleys  where  there  is 


AVES RALLID^E. 


43 


considerable  growth  of  bushes,  but  not  observed  on  the  higher  pampas 
nor  in  the  forests  of  the  Andes." 

A  single  specimen  of  this  bird  from  the  Valle  del  Lago  Blanco,  Chubut, 
November  5,  1901,  collected  by  J.  Koslowsky  is  now  in  the  British  Museum. 


Skin. 

P.  U.  O.  Coll.  No. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

Skin. 

7,921 

Qad. 

Rio  Chico,  Patagonia. 

4  March,  1898. 

<—  i 

W 

M 

7,922 

Qad. 

tt                  tt                          tt 

4  March,  1898. 

PC 

tt 

7,923 

$Jw. 

tt                  tt                          tt 

12  March,  1898. 

E 

ft- 

ii 

8,301 

<$im. 

tt                  tt                          (f 

12  March,  1898. 

| 

t( 

8,302 

$Juv. 

Vera  Cruz, 

25  February,  1898. 

fl 

Order  RALLIFORMES. 

Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.,  I.  p.  93  (1899). 


Family 

Sharpe,  Cat.  Birds,  Brit.  Mus.  XXIII.  p.  i  (1894);    id.  Hand-List  Bds. 
P-  93  (1899). 

Subfamily  RALLIN^.. 
Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.,  I.  p.  93,  (1899). 


Genus  RALLUS  Linnaeus. 

Rallus,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat  I.  p.  261  (1766) ;  Sharpe, 

Cat.   Bds.   Brit.    Mus.   XXIII.    p.  6   (1894); 

id.  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  93  (1899)  .... 
Biensis,  Pucher.  Rev.  Zool.  p.  278  (1845)  .  .  . 
Limnopardalis  (nee  Cab.),  Heine  &  Reichen. 

Nomencl.  Mus.  Hein.  p.  320  (1890)     .     .     . 

RALLUS  ANTARCTICUS  King. 

Rallus  antarcticus,  King,  Zool.  Journ.  IV.  p.  95  (1828:  Straits  of  Ma- 
gellan) ;  Des  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  435  (1847)  !  sd- 


Type. 

R.  aquaticus. 

R.  madagascariensis. 

: 

R.  elegans. 


44 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 


P.  Z.  S.    1867,  p.  333  (Chile)  ;  id.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  445; 

iid.  Exot.  Orn.  p.  163,  pi.  LXXXII  (1868)  ;  Phil.  &  Landl.  Cat.  Av. 

Chil.  p.  38  (1868) ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p,  139  (1873) ; 

iid.  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  437  (Sandy  Point)  ;  iid.  Voy.  Chall.  IT.  Birds, 

p.  1 08  (1880)  ;  Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  276  (1884:  Carhue)  ;  Withington, 

Ibis,  1888,  p.  471  (Lomasde  Zamora)  ;  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos 

Aires,  III.  part  X.  p.  246  (1888  :  Straits  of  Magellan)  ;  Scl.  &  Huds. 

Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  148  (1889)  ;  Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap  Horn  Oiseaux, 

p.  133  (1891  :  Punta  Arenas) ;  James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  10  (1892); 

Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIII.  p.  19  (1894);  id.  Hand-List  B.  I. 

p.  94  (1899);  Oates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  no  (1901);  Phil. 

An.  Mus.  Chile,  XV.  pi.  28  (1902). 
Rallus   rufopennis,   Gray,   List  B.   Brit.   Mus.    Part   III.   p.    116   (1844); 

Hartl.  Naum.  1853,  p.  222  (Valdivia). 
Ortygometra  antarctica,  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  594  (1846). 
Ralhis  uliginosus,  Phil.   Arch.    f.    Nat.   p.    83   (1858:    Santiago);   id.   & 

Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  38  (1868). 
Aramus  antarcticus,  Gray,  Handl.  B.  III.  p.  59,  no.  10420  (1871). 


FIG.  22.  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. --Total  length,  7.5  inches. 
Culmen,  1.2  inches. 
Wing,  3.6  inches. 
Tail,  1.7  inches. 
Tarsus,  1.35  inches. 
Color. — General   color  above    buffy 
brown   striped   with   dusky  brown   or 
black;    below  lead  color,  with  whitish 
and  buffy  brown  suffusion. 

Head :  Crown  blackish  brown,  with 
each  feather  edged  and  tipped  with 
sandy  buff.  Sides  of  face  lead  color. 
A  stripe  beginning  in  front  of  and 

above  the  eye,  pale  buff  almost  white  at  its  origin  so  as  to  appear  as  a  spot, 
shading  then  into  deeper  buff,  this  in  its  turn  shading  into  lead  color  like 
that  of  the  sides  of  the  face.  Region  in  front  of  the  eye  and  lores  black- 


Rallus  antarcticus.     Profile  head  and  neck. 
Natural  size. 


AVES RALLID^E.  45 

ish.  This  color  extends  backward  below  the  eye  to  the  region  of  the  ear 
coverts,  where  it  gradually  fades  into  the  lead  color  of  the  sides  of  head. 

Throat :  White  shading  into  the  clear  lead  color  of  the  foreneck. 

Neck:  Above  and  on  the  sides  like  the  back,  each  feather  blackish, 
bordered  with  sandy  buff,  the  edgings  becoming  more  pronounced  and 
broader  as  the  neck  joins  the  body.  Below  the  neck  is  lead  color,  at  first 
clear,  then  shaded  with  sandy  brown  as  it  joins  the  breast  region. 

Back:  Dusky  black,  each  feather  broadly  margined  with  sandy  buffy 
brown.  Rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  like  the  back,  but  the  black  area 
on  each  feather  comparatively  less. 

Wing:  The  scapulars  are  like  the  back  but  the  black  area  on  each 
feather  is  proportionately  less.  Wing  coverts  uniform  sandy  brown,  with 
a  rufescent  tinge.  Bastard  wing,  the  primary  coverts  and  primaries  sooty 
brown,  unmarked ;  secondaries  of  a  like  color,  but  with  faint  white  tips 
and  one  or  more  broken  white  bars,  and  brownish  markings  becoming 
on  the  inner  ones  like  the  back  and  scapulars  in  color  and  pattern. 

Tail :  The  feathers  are  much  like  those  of  the  back  in  color  and  pattern, 
the  brown  edging  preponderating,  however,  over  the  dusky  brown  center 
of  each  feather. 

Lower  parts :  Breast  lead  color,  with  a  strong  suffusion  of  brown  and 
with  grayish  white  fringes  to  many  of  the  feathers.  Sides  and  flanks 
black,  each,  feather  strongly  barred,  and  slightly  fringed  with  clear  white. 
Abdomen  lead  color  with  sandy  buff  tips  and  fringes  on  each  feather. 
Under  tail  coverts  black,  barred  and  tipped  with  white.  Under  wing 
coverts  and  axillaries  dusky,  the  coverts  broadly  tipped  and  the  axillaries 
both  barred  and  tipped  with  white. 

This  description  is  based  on  a  specimen,  sex  not  indicated,  No.  7800 
Princeton  University  collection,  taken  at  Lower  Rio  Chico,  Patagonia, 
30  March,  1897.  This  bird  is  apparently  adult. 

The  collector's  notes  describe  the  iris  as  "brown."  "Upper  mandible 
dark  red,  lower  one  bright  red  ;  feet  and  toes  dark  purple ;  iris  reddish 
brown"  (F.  Withington). 

Geographical  Range. — Argentine  Republic,  to  central  Chile  and 
throughout  Patagonia. 

The  only  individual  of  this  species  that  was  secured  by  the  expeditions 
sent  out  by  Princeton  University  to  Patagonia,  has  been  cited  above. 


46 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 


P.  U.  O.  C.  No. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

Skin. 

7,800. 

Not  Known. 

Lower  Rio  Chico,  Patagonia. 

30  March,  1897. 

J.  B.  Hatcher. 

A  female  of  this  species  from  the  Valle  del  Lago  Blanco,  Chubut,  col- 
lected by  J.  Koslowsky  on  November  27,  1901,  is  now  in  the  collection 
of  the  British  Museum. 

The  similarity  of  "this  Rail  to  the  Virginia  Rail  (fi.  mrginianus]  is  no- 
ticeable. Almost  the  same  size,  this  bird  is  materially  different  in  color, 
though  the  pattern  of  the  color  areas  is  much  alike  in  both. 

The  habits  of  these  small  rails  have  been  dealt  with  by  a  number  of 
authors  and  they  do  not  seem  to  differ  greatly  from  their  congeners 
throughout  the  world. 


Genus  LIMNOPARDALIS  Cabanis. 

Limnopardalus,  Cab.  J.  f.  O.  1856,  p.  428;  Sharpe, 
Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIII.  p.  27  (1894)  .  .  . 

Pardirallus,  Bp.  C.  R.  xliii.  p.  599  (1856) 

Ortygonax,  Heine  in  Heine  &  Reichen.  Nomencl.  Mus. 
Hein.  p.  321  (1890) 

Limnopardalis,  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  95  (1899) 
( =  Limnopardalus}. 


Type. 

L.  maculatus. 
L.  maculatus. 

L.  rytirhynchus. 


Geographical  Range. — Cuba,  Trinidad  and  South  America. 


LIMNOPARDALIS  VIGILANTIS  Sharpe. 

Rallus  rythyrhynch^^s  (nee  Vieill),  Doering,  Expl.  al   Rio  Negro,  Zool. 

Aves,  p.  55  (1882:   Abundant  on  the  Rios  Negro  and  Colorado)  ; 

Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Ayres,  III.  Part  X.  p.  246  (1888: 

Patagonia). 

Rallus  antarcticus,  Sharpe  (nee  King),  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  14  (Tom  Bay). 
Limnopardalus  vigilantis,  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIII.  p.  31,  pi.  IV. 

(1894);    id.    Hand-List   B.   I.    p.   95    (1899);    Salvad.   Ann.    Mus. 

Genov.  (2)  xx.  p.  626  (1900:  Keppel  Isl.,  Falklands,  Aug.). 


AVES RALLID/E.  47 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Total  length,  15.5  inches. 

Culmen,  2.55  inches. 

Wing,  5.3  inches. 

Tail,  3.0  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.85  inches. 

The  female  is  slightly  larger  than  the  male. 

Color.  — General  color  above  olive  brown  ;  below  slaty  lead  color.  These 
colors  are  almost  unbroken  in  their  respective  areas. 

Head  :  Crown  olive  brown.  On  the  sides  of  the  face  slaty  lead  color. 
A  superciliary  line  reaching  forward  to  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible 
slaty  lead  color.  The  entire  area  in  front  of  the  eye,  and  a  narrow  region 
above  and  below  it,  as  well  as  a  triangular  shaped  area  behind  the  eye, 
olive  brown.  Eyelids  slaty  lead  color. 

Neck :  Above  olive  brown,  shading  into  slaty  lead  color  below.  The 
slaty  lead  color  is  more  or  less  suffused  with  olive  brown,  particularly  on 
the  sides  of  the  neck  just  back  of  the  head. 

Back:    The  feathers  of  the  lower  back  are  mottled  FIG.  23. 

and  have  black  bases.     Those  of  the  rump  are  simi- 
larly marked. 

Wing :  The  scapulars  are  marked  like  the  feathers 
of  the  lower  back  and  have  black  bases.  The  inner 
secondaries  are  black  with  broad  margins  of  olive 

^•1111  •  i       i  i  r    i  LTm,.t'i>ardahs         - 

brown.     Quills  dusky,  with  the  exposed  parts  of  the     lanfis  Profileof  head 

OUter  webs  olive  brown.  and  neck.     y*  natural 

Lower  parts  :  Slaty  lead  color  with  more   or   less      size, 
olive  brown   shading,   which  becomes   dusky   on  the 
lower  flanks.     Under  tail  coverts  dusky  or  blackish  with  sandy  brown 
edges. 

Tail  olive  brown.  "Bill  dark  green;  legs  and  feet  red;  iris  red"  (Dr. 
Coppinger). 

The  female  is  similar  to  the  male  in  color. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Islands  of  the  Straits  of  Magellan  and  the  Pata- 
gonia'n  shores  of  those  waters. 

The  Princeton  Expeditions  did  not  secure  this  species,  as  the  region 
where  it  occurs  was  not  dealt  with  by  the  corps  of  naturalists  composing 


48  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 

the  party.  The  description  given  is  based  on  the  material  in  the  British 
Museum  of  Natural  History. 

From  my  studies  of  this  material  and  the  allied  forms  L.  sang^t^nolen- 
tus,  Swains,  and  L.  rytirhynchus,  Vieill.,  I  am  convinced  that  they  are 
all  three  specifically  distinct.  L.  rytirhynchus  and  L.  sangtiinolentus  do 
overlap  in  their  geographical  distribution,  but  their  differences  in  size  and 
color  readily  distinguish  them. 

Not  touching  even  the  borders  of  the  range  of  either  of  the  others, 
L.  vigilantis  in  color  closely  resembles  L.  rytirhynclms,  but  their  great 
difference  in  size  would  readily  distinguish  them,  even  if  they  inhabited 
the  same  or  adjacent  regions.  The  average  total  length  of  L,  rytirhynchus 
is  about  10.5  inches,  while  that  of  L.  uigilantis  is  15.5  inches.  L.  san- 
guinolentus  is  intermediate  between  these  two  in  *size,  the  total  length 
averaging  about  12.5  inches,  but  is  essentially  different  from  its  two  allies 
in  color. 

* 

It  would  be  of  great  interest  to  know  more  of  the  life  history  of  these 
birds,  especially  as  to  whether  they  are  permanent  residents  in  the  several 
regions  where  they  occur,  or  if  they  are  migratory.  I  suspect  that  the  for- 
mer of  these  alternatives  will  prove  to  be  the  condition  so  far  as  this  part 
of  their  life  history  is  concerned,  and  that  their  extremes  represented  by 
L.  rytirhynchus  on  the  one  hand  and  by  L.  vigilantis  on  the  other,  are 
but  another  example,  added  to  the  many  already  known,  of  the  influence 
of  environment  on  the  descendents  from  a  common  stock. 


Genus  ORTYGOPS  Heine. 

Type. 

Coturnicops,  Bp.  C.  R.  XLIII.  p.  599  (1856).     .     .     .     O.  noveboracensis. 

Ortygops  (nom.  emend.),  Heine,  in  Heine  &  Reich- 
enow,    Nomencl.    Mus.    Hein.    p.    320    (1890)  ; 
Sharpe,    Cat.    Bds.    Brit.    Mus.    XXIII.    p.    126 
(1894);  id.  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  104  (1899). 
Geographical  Range.  —  North   America:    north   to    Nova   Scotia   and 

Hudson's  Bay,  west  to  Utah  and  Nevada,  the  Greater  Antilles,  eastern 

Mexico.     South  America :  southeastern  Brazil ;  Uruguay  to   Patagonia. 

Southeastern  Africa.     Northern  China,  to  eastern  Siberia  and  Japan. 


AVES RALLID^E.  49 

ORTYGOPS  NOTATA  (Gould). 

Zapornia  notata,  Gould,  Voy.  "Beagle,"  Birds,  p.  132,  pi.  48  (1841  :  Rio 

Plata). 

Ortygotnetra  notata,  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  594  (1846). 
Porzana  notata,  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  456;  iid.  Nomencl.  Av. 

Neotr.,  p.  140  (1873);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  255  (Uruguay).  Burm. 

An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Ayres,  III.  Part  X.  p.  246  (1888:  Patagonia); 

Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  155  (1889). 
Aramides  notata,  Gray,  Handl.  B.  III.  p.  61,  no.  10445  (1<&1^\ 
Ortygops  notata,  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIII.  p.    121   (1894);  id. 

Hand-list  B.  I.  p.  104  (1899). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Total  length,  5.3  inches. 

Culmen,  0.45  inch. 

Wing,  3.1  inches. 

Tail,  2.25  inches. 

Tarsus,  0.8  inch. 

Color. — General  color  above  chocolate  brown  mottled  and  spotted  with 
black  and  white ;  below  grayish  white,  mottled  on  the  breast  and  barred 
on  the  sides  and  flanks  with  dusky,  or  blackish  markings. 

Head :    Crown  of  head  darker  chocolate  brown,  FlG-  24- 

with  many  markings  or  spots  of  white.  Lores 
dusky  brown,  with  a  whitish  streak  above.  Sides 
of  face  and  cheeks  dusky  blackish  with  numerous 
white  spots. 

Neck :  Chin  and  upper  throat  whitish,  the  throat 
mottled  with  dusky  brown.  The  rest  of  the  front 
of  the  neck  whitish,  mottled  with  the  dusky  black  Ortygops  notata  Pro- 

_»,>.,  111  file    of  head   and  neck, 

centers  of  each  feather.     Back  of  the  neck  darker      showing  color  pattern 
chocolate  brown  than  back,  shading  on  the  sides  into      Natural  size, 
the  lighter  region  of  the  front  of  the  neck. 

Back:  Chocolate  brown,  generally  mottled  with  black  centers  to  the 
feathers  and  white  spots.  On  the  lower  back  and  rump  the  white  spots 


cjo  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 

sometimes  assume  the  form  of  bars.  The  upper  tail  coverts  chocolate 
brown  decorated  with  minute  white  spots. 

Wing:  The  wing  coverts  chocolate  brown,  mottled  with  blackish  cen- 
ters to  the  feathers  and  with  white  spotting  sometimes  assuming  the  form 
of  bars.  The  inner  secondaries  chocolate  brown,  mottled  like  the  back 
and  barred  with  white.  Bastard  wing  and  primary  coverts  brown,  with 
little  or  no  white  marking.  Quills  dusky  brown,  the  middle  secondaries 
being  white  on  the  inner  web.  When  the  wing  is  spread  this  white  por- 
tion of  the  secondaries  forms  a  definite  white  patch  varying  somewhat  in  size. 
Under  wing  coverts  and  axillaries  white,  mottled  with  brown  bases  to  the 
feathers. 

Tail  blackish  brown. 

Lower  parts :  Upper  breast  whitish  mottled  with  dusky  brown,  or  black- 
ish centers  to  the  feathers.  Center  of  breast  and  abdomen  whitish,  with 
dusky  brown  cross  bars. 

Sides  of  body  and  flanks  blackish  brown,  with  narrow  white  bars  and 
tips  on  each  feather.  Under  tail  coverts  blackish  with  vinous  tips. 

Geographical  Range. — Uruguay  and  southward  into  Patagonia. 


The  Expeditions  sent  out  by  Princeton  did  not  obtain  specimens  of  this 
little  known  bird.  The  description  given  is  taken  from  the  type  which  is 
in  the  British  Museum  and  which  was  collected  by  the  late  Charles 
Darwin,  at  Rio  Plata  during  the  voyage  of  H.  M.  S.  "Beagle"  around 
the  world. 

A  second  individual,  an  immature  bird,  was  taken  at  sea  off  Cape 
Santa  Maria,  Uruguay. 

Subfamily  FULICINsE. 

Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIII.  p.  209  (1894)  ;  id.  Hand-List  Birds, 
p.  109  (1899). 

Genus  FULICA  Linnaeus. 

Type. 

FuUca,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  257  (1766)  ;  Sharpe,  Cat. 
Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIII.  p.  209  (1894);  id.  Hand-List 
Bds.  I.  p.  109  (1899) P-  atra- 


AVES RALLID/E.  5! 

Pkalaria,  Reichenb.  Syst.  Av.  p.  xxi F.  gigantea. 

Lysca,  Reichenb.  Syst.  Av.  p.  xxi .     .     .  F.  ardesiaca. 

Lupha,  Reichenb.  Syst.  Av.  p.  xxi. F.  cristata. 

Lophophalaris,  Heine,  in  Heine  &  Reichenow,  Nomencl. 

Mus.  Hein.  p.  317  (1890).     .     . .  F.  cristata. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Nearly  all   portions   of  both   continents  ;    the 
Malay  Archipelago  and  Australia. 


FULICA    ARMILLATA  Vieillot. 

Foca  de  ligas  roxas,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  474  (1805). 

Fulica  armillata,  Vieill.  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  "XII.  p.  47  (1817:  ex 
Azara);  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  600  (1845);  Hartl.  Ind.  Azara,  p.  28 
(1847);  id.  Naum,  1853,  p.  222  (Valdivia) ;  Burm.  La  Plata  Reis. 
II.  p.  505  (1861  :  MenTdoza;  Rio  Parana);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867,  pp. 
334.  339  (Chile);  id.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  465  (Chile:  Pata- 
gonia); iid.  Exot.  Orn.  p.  115  pi.  Iviii  (1868);  iid.  Nomencl.  Av. 
Neotr.  p.  140  (1873);  Durnf.  Ibis,  1877,  p.  195  (Buenos  Ayres) ; 
1878,  p.  66  (Buenos  Ayres,  eggs),  p.  401  (central  Patagonia,  common 
in  the  lakes  and  on  the  Sengel  and  Sengelen  rivers) ;  Doering,  Expl. 
al  Rio  Negro,  Zool.  Aves,  p.  55  (1881  :  abundant  on  the  lagoons  in 
the  valleys  of  the  Rios  Negro  and  Colorado) ;  Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  277 
(1884):  Entrerios) :  Withington,  Ibis,  1888,  p.  478  (Lomas  de  Za- 
mora) ;  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  157  (1889);  Burm.  An. 
Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  Part  X.  p.  246  (1888:  Rivers  of  Pata- 
gonia and  Straits  of  Magellan) ;  id.  Part  XI.  p.  319  (1890 :  Rio  Chico, 
Santa  Cruz:  Deseado :  Rio  Singuer) ;  Holland,  Ibis,  1890,  p.  425 
(Buenos  Ayres);  Frenzel,  J.  f.  O.  1890,  p.  125  (Cordoba);  Oust. 
Miss.  Scient.  Cap.  Horn.  Oiseaux,  p.  136  (1898:  Rio  Gallegos) ; 
James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  80  (1892);  Holland,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  280 
(Estancia  Espartilla,  very  common  throughout  the  year,  breeds  early 
in  Sept.);  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIII.  p.  218  (1894);  Lane, 
Ibis,  1897,  P-  302  (Chile);  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  66 1 
(1898;  La  Serena,  Oct.;  El  Pozo,  Lago  Llanquihue,  Nov.;  Susanna 
Cove,  Straits  of  Magellan,  May);  Sharpe,  Hand-list  B.  I.  p.  180 
(1899);  Oates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  130  (1901). 


52  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 

Fiilica  chloropoides,  King,  Zool.  Journ.  IV.  p.  95  (1828:  Straits  of  Ma- 
gellan); Des  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  438  (1847); 
Hartl.  Naum.  1853,  p.  222  (Valdivia) ;  Leyb.  Excurs.  Pamp.  Argent. 
p.  54  (1873). 

Fulica  frontata,  Gray,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  Part  iii.  p.  124  (1844);  Hartl. 
Naum.  1853,  p.  222  (Valdivia). 

Lysca  armillata,  Reichenb.  Syst.  Nat.  p.  xxi  (1852). 

Fulica  chilensis,  Landb.  (nee  Des  Murs)  Arch,  fur  Nat.  XXVIII.  p.  215 
(1862) ;  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  39  (1868). 

Fulica  leucopyga,  Sharpe  (nee  Wagl.  nee  Licht)  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  14 
(Talcahuano). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Total  length,  18  inches. 

Culmen  including  frontal  shield,  2.25  inches. 

Wing,  8.5  inches. 

Tail,  2.15  inches. 

Tarsus,  2.6  inches. 

FIG.  25.  FIG.  26. 


Fulica  armillata.     Profile  of  head         Fulica  armillata.     Showing  shape  of 
and  neck.      ^  natural  size.  frontal  shield.      ^  natural  size. 

Color. — General  color  dark  lead,  deepest  above,  paler  below. 

Head  velvety  black,  throughout. 

Neck  velvety  black,  throughout. 

Back,  lower  back,  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts,  deep  lead  color,  with  a 
faint  wash  of  olive. 

Wing :  Like  the  back ;  quills  blackish,  the  first  primary  having  a  dis- 
tinctly white  edge  to  its  outer  web. 

Tail  blackish. 


AVES RALLID/E.  53 

Lower  parts  :  Generally  deep  lead  color,  a  little  paler  in  shade  than  the 
back  and  without  the  olive  washing  of  that  region.  The  central  under 
tail  coverts  are  deep  lead  color  and  the  lateral  ones  pure  white. 

Princeton  University  collection,  No.  7,803,  male  adult.  Rio  Coy,  Pata- 
gonia, 25  January,  1898,  J.  B.  Hatcher. 

The  frontal  shield  is  pointed  and  reaches  well  back  on  the  forehead. 
"Bill  and  shield  primrose  yellow"  (Durnford) ;  "base  of  upper  mandible 
and  a  small  portion  of  the  shield  bright  blood  red  ;  legs  olivaceous  with  a 
pale  red  garter  above  the  knee  "  (Durnford). 

"Bill  yellow,  with  a  dark  red  patch  on  the  oilmen;  legs  olive  green; 
claws  brown  ;  iris  yellow  "  (Coppinger). 

Geographical  Range.  —  Patagonia  and  Chile,  northward  to  Bolivia, 
Argentina,  and  southern  Brazil. 


The  Princeton  Expeditions  procured  a  series  of  seven  of  these  birds 
which  do  not  vary  greatly  from  the  bird  no.  7803  of  the  collection  which 
formed  a  basis  for  the  foregoing  description. 

The  colors  of  the  external  bare  soft  parts  of  birds  of  this  genus  and 
allied  genera  are  subject  to  very  marked  modification.  They  vary  much 
with  the  age  of  the  individual,  seasonal  change  is  also  very  appreciable 
and  finally  sex  is  another  factor  to  be  reckoned  with.  It  is  also  well  known 
to  competent  field  naturalists  that  the  bills  and  more  especially  the  frontal 
shields  change  very  rapidly  in  color  after  death  and  an  hour  or  more  often 
furnishes  ample  time  for  the  natural  color  to  have  been  lost.  Further 
field  notes  made  as  soon  as  examples  are  shot  would  be  of  great  value. 

Immature  birds  have  a  tendency  to  a  general  lighter  color  especially 
on  the  lower  surface.  This  in  its  extreme  shows  fine  white  tips  to  each 
feather  on  the  belly. 

An  immature  male,  No.  7,967,  taken  at  Arroyo  Eke,  Patagonia,  15  April, 
1898,  has  a  decided  reddish  brown  intermixture  of  feathers  in  the  region 
in  front  of  the  eye.  This  is  also  apparent  on  the  head,  neck  and  body  in 
a  varying  degree.  The  region  below  the  lower  eyelid  in  this  bird  is 
decidedly  whitish.  Nos.  7,964  <?  im.,  7,965  J1  im.  have  similar  brown 
washing. 

Number  8315,  J1  adult,  is  darker  throughout  than  the  other  birds  com- 
posing this  series. 


54 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 


A  female  adult  and  nestling  of  this  species  has  been  lately  received  by 
the  British  Museum  from  the  Valle  del  Lago  Blanco,  collected  by  J. 
Koslowsky  on  November  20,  1900. 


P.  U.  O.  C.  No. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

Skin. 

7,963 
7,964 
7,965 
7,966 

7,967 
7,803 
8,315 

J^adult. 
^immature, 
^immature. 
C^adult. 
^immature, 
(-fadult. 
C^adult. 

Rio  Chico,  Patagonia. 
tt       tt 

"  Santa  Cruz, 
tt       tt       ft 

Arroyo  Eke, 
Rio  Coy, 
"    Deseado, 

1  6  March,  1898. 
14  March,  1898. 
I  March,  1898. 
i  March,  1898. 
15  April,  1898. 
26  January,  1898. 
31  March,  1898. 

to) 

S 
g 

o 
ft 

•1 

FULICA  RUFIFRONS  Philippi  &  Landbach. 

Fulica  leucopyga,  Gray  (nee  Wagl.),  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  600  (1845);  Burm. 
Th.  Bras.  III.  p.  390  note  (1856:  Montevideo);  Schl.  Mus.  Pays- 
Bas,  Ralli,  p.  64  (1865:  Santiago);  Pelz.  Reis.  Novara,  Vog.  p.  135 
(1865:  Chile);  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  467  fig.  9  (Chile; 
Patagonia;  Falkland  Islands)  ;  iid.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  140 
(1873);  Durnf.  Ibis,  1877,  p.  42  (Chupat  Valley,  very  common 
breeds  numerously);  1878,  p.  66  (note  on  the  nesting),  p.  402 
(lagoons  and  pools  in  the  valleys  of  the  Chupat,  Sengel  and 
Sengelen) ;  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  Part  X.  p.  247 
(1888:  Straits  of  Magellan  and  Falklands) ;  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent. 
Orn.  II.  p.  157  (1889);  James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  10  (1892); 
Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIII.  p.  220  (1894);  Schalow,  Zool. 
Jahrb.  Supp.  IV.  p.  667  (1898:  Villa  Rica,  Oct.;  La  Serena,  Oct.). 

Fulica  leucopygia,  Hartl.  J.  f.  O.  1853,  Extrah.  p.  84;  Withington,  Ibis, 
1888,  p.  471  (Lomas  de  Zamora) ;  Oust.  Miss.  Scient.  Cap  Horn, 
Oiseaux,  p.  135  (1891). 

Fulica  chloropoides,  Abbott  (nee  King),  Ibis,  1861,  p.  157  (Stanley  Har- 
bour, Falkland  Islands). 

Fulica  rufifrons,  Phil.  &  Landb.  Arch.  f.  Nat.  XXVIII.  p.  223  (1862); 
iid.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  39  (1868);  Leybold,  Excurs.  Pamp.  Arjent. 
p.  20  (1873);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  no  (1899);  Oates,  Cat. 
Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  131  (1901). 


AVES RALLID^.  55 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Total  length,  14  inches. 

Culmen  including  frontal  shield,  2.2  inches. 

Wing,  6.5  inches. 

Tail,  2.4  inches. 

Tarsus,  2.2  inches. 

Color. — The  color  of  this  bird  is  almost  identical  with  that  of  Fulica 
armillata,1  Vieill,  but  the  birds  are  readily  distinguished  both  by  their 
difference  in  size,  and  by  the  absence  of  a  white  outer  edging  to  the  first 
primary  in  Fulica  rufifrons. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Falkland  Islands,  Patagonia,  Chile,  southern 
Brazil  and  Argentina. 


This  species  was  not  secured  by  the  naturalists  sent  out  by  Princeton 
University  to  Patagonia.  The  descriptions  given  are  based  on  material 
in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History. 

FULICA  LEUCOPTERA  Vieillot. 

Foe  ha,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  472  (1805). 

Fulica  leucoptera,  Vieill.  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  XII.  p.  48  (1817:  ex 
Azara);  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  600  (1845);  Hartl.  Ind.  Azara,  p.  28 
(1847);  Burm.  La  Plata  Reise,  II.  p.  505  (1861  :  Parana);  Scl.  & 
Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  468  (Parana)  ;  iid.  Exot.  Orn.  p.  119,  pi.  IX 
(1868);  Gray,  Handl.  B.  III.  p.  68,  no.  10520  (1871);  Scl.  &  Salv. 
Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  140  (1873);  Durnf.  Ibis,  1877,  P-  !95>  ^78, 
p.  67  (Buenos  Ayres,  eggs);  Doering  Expl.  al  Rio  Negro,  Zool.  Aves, 
p.  55  (1882:  Rios  Negro  and  Colorado);  White,  P.  Z.  S.  1883,  p. 
43  (Cordoba);  Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  277  (1884:  Carhue);  Withington, 
Ibis,  1888,  p.  472  (Lomas  de  Zamora);  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn. 
II.  p.  158  (1889);  Ridgw.  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  XII.  p.  137  (1889: 
Sandy  Point);  Holland,  Ibis,  1890,  p.  425  (Buenos  Ayres);  Oust. 
Miss.  Scient.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  p.  134  (1891:  Beagle  Canal); 
Frenzel,  J.  f.  O.  1891,  p.  125  (Cordoba);  James,  New  List  Chil.  B. 
p.  10  (1892);  Holland,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  210  (Estancia  Espartilla,  com- 

'See  ante,  page  52,  this  volume. 


56  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:    ZOOLOGY. 

mon  throughout  wet  years,  in  immense  numbers  in  winter,  breeds 
early  in  Oct.);  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIII.  p.  224  (1894); 
Lane,  Ibis,  1897,  p.  302  (Sacaya);  Schalow.  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV. 
p.  667  (1898 :  Lago  Llanquihue,  Nov.);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  no 
(1899);  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX.  p.  626  (1900:  Uscinaia, 
June);  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  132  (1901). 

Fulica  gallinuloides,  King,  Zool.  Journ.  IV.  p.  96  (1828:  Straits  of  Ma- 
gellan) ;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  291  ;  Gibson,  Proc.  Phys.  Soc. 
Edinb.  1876,  78,  p.  184. 

Fulica  leucopyga,  Wagl.  Isis,  1831,  p.  516. 

Fulica  stricklandi,  Hartl.  J.  f.  O.  1853,  Extrah.  p.  86;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S. 
1867,  p.  339. 

Fulica  chloropoides,  Phil.  &  Landb.  (nee  King)  Arch.  f.  Nat.  XXVIII.  p. 
218  (1862)  ;  iid.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  39  (1868). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.  —  (Male,  P.  U.  C.  No.  7,962.)     Total  length,  about  14.50  inches. 

Culmen  including  frontal  shield,  1.80  inches. 

Wing,  8.1  inches. 

Tail,  2.40  inches. 

Tarsus,  2.3  inches. 

Color.  —  (Male  cited  above).     The  general  coloration   of  this  species 

FIG.  27.  FIG.  28. 


Fulica  leucoptera.    Profile  of  Fulica  leucoptera.     Showing  shape 

head  and  neck,      i^  natu-  of  frontal  shield, 

ral  size. 

resembles  closely  that  of  Fulica  armillata  Vieill.,  but  the  olive  washing  of 
the  upper  parts  is  clearer  and  the  lower  are  decidedly  lighter  and  more 
slaty.  The  outer  feathers  of  the  bastard  wing  are  white,  as  is  the  outer 
edge  of  the  first  primary.  The  outer  secondaries  have  broad  white  tips. 


AVES RALLID/E. 


57 


These  characteristics  and  the  size  and  shape  of  the  frontal  shield,  as 
well  as  the  difference  in  size,  will  readily  distinguish  the  species  from  its 
congeners  in  Patagonia. 

Dr.  Hahn  gives  the  following  data  as  to  the  color  of  the  external  soft 
parts  :  "Frontal  shield  chrome  yellow;  bill  chrome  yellow  with  the  tips  of 
the  mandibles  greenish ;  feet  very  pale  sea  green,  with  the  webs,  joints, 
and  claws  black;  iris  fiery  red." 

Geographical  Range.  —  Patagonia,  and  Chile  northward  to  southern 
Brazil,  Peru  and  Bolivia. 


In  general  appearance  this  species  is  much  like  Fulica  americana, 
Gmel,  but  the  shape  of  the  frontal  shield,  its  color  as  well  as  that  of  the 
bill,  both  mandibles  being  entirely  yellow,  together  with  the  general  darker 
coloration  of  the  entire  plumage,  readily  distinguish  F.  leticoptera,  Vieill., 
from  Fulica  americana,  Gmel. 

The  Princeton  Expeditions  secured  a  small  series  (4)  of  this  species. 
Two  birds  obtained  in  January,  both  females,  are  in  worn  breeding  plum- 
age, and  beginning  to  moult,  many  of  the  new  feathers  of  the  upper 
parts  contrasting  sharply  with  the  worn  and  faded  condition  of  the 
feathers  of  that  region  and  of  the  wings.  Another  bird,  also  a  female 
taken  in  May,  presents  a  similar  condition  of  moult,  while  a  bird  taken 
March  16,  a  male,  is  in  fine  unworn  plumage  and  has  the  feathers  of  the 
breast  and  lower  parts  generally,  strongly  tipped  or  fringed  with  white ; 
there  is  a  strong  admixture  of  similar  feathers  on  the  throat,  sides  of  the 
neck  and  chin.  These  fringes  extend  well  up  on  the  sides  of  the'  face 
and  a  few  are  apparent  on  the  occiput.  This  bird  appears  to  be  a  young 
bird  of  the  year  which  after  having  moulted  \hz  first  plumage  is  assuming 
the  adult  dress.  The  white  tips  to  the  outer  secondaries  are  very  narrow 
in  this  bird  No.  7,962. 


• 

P.  U.  O.  C.  No. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

Skin. 

(* 

14 
14 

7,80  1 

7,802 
7,961 
7,962 

9  adult. 
9  adult. 
9  adult. 

c?y-°-y- 

Rio  Coy,  Patagonia. 
Palaike, 
Arroyo  Eke,    " 
Rio  Chico,       " 

22  January,  1898. 
1  8  January,  1898. 
13  May,  1898. 
1  6  March,  1898. 

•J.  B.  Hatcher. 

|*J 

If 
« 

58  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  !     ZOOLOGY. 

Order  PODICIPEDIDIFORMES. 

Sharpe,  Classif.  Birds,  p.  71    (1891);  id.,   Hand-List  Bds.    i.  p.   113, 
(1899). 

Family   PODICIPEDID^E. 

Ogilvie-Grant,  Cat.  Birds,  Brit.  Mus.    XXVI.    p.   502    (1898);    Sharpe, 
Hand-List  Bds.  i.  p.  113(1899). 

Genus   PODICIPES  Latham. 

Type. 

Colymbus   [Brisson,    Orn.   vi.   p.   33   (1760)];    Illiger, 

Prodromus,  p.  28 1  ( 1 8 1 1 ) P.  cristatus. 

Podiceps,  Lath.  Suppl.  Gen.  Syn.  p.  294  (1784)     .     .     P.  cristatus. 

Dytes,  Kaup,  Nat.  Syst.  p.  41  (1829) P.  auritits. 

Pedetaithya,  Kaup,  Nat.  Syst.  p.  44  ( 1 829)     .     .     .     .     P.  griseigena. 

Proctopiis,  Kaup,  Nat.  Syst.  p.  49  (1829) P.  nigricollis. 

Lophaithyia,  Kaup,  Nat.  Syst.  p.  72  (1829)    .     .     .     .     P.  cristatus. 
Dasyptilus,  Swains.  Class.  B.  ii.  p.  369  (1837)    •     •     •    .P.  poliocephahts. 
Poliocephalus,  Selby,  Cat.  Gen.  &  Subgen.  Types  Aves, 

p.  47  (1840) P.  poliocephahis. 

Pedeaithyia,  G.  R.  Gray,  Gen.  Bds.  iii.  p.  632  (1846); 

id.  Hand-List  Bds.  iii.  p.  93  (1871) P.  griseigena. 

Lophaethyia,   L.  Agassiz,  Nomen.   Zool.,  Index  Uni- 

versalis,  p.  620  (1848) .     P.  cristatns. 

Tachybaptus,  Reichenb.  Av.  Syst.   pi.   ii.    (1849);   id. 

Nat.  Syst.  Vog.  p.  iii  (1852) P.  fluviatilis. 

Otodytes,  Reichenb.  Nat.  Syst.  Vog.  p.  iii.  (1852).  .     .     P.  nigricollis. 
Rollandia,  Bonap.  C.  R.  xlii  p.  775  (1856)     .     .     .     .     P.  rollandi. 
Centropelma,  Sclater  &  Salvin,  Exotic  Orn.  ii.  p.   189 

(1869) P.  microptcrus. 

Calipareus}  Bonap.  1855;  fide  Gray,  Hand-List,  iii.  p. 

94  (1871) P.  calipareus. 

Colymbetes,  Heine  in  Heine  &  Reichenow,  Nomencl. 

Mus.  Hein.  p.  364  (1890) P.-poliocephalus. 

Podicipes,  Ogilvie-Grant,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  xxvi.  p. 

502    (1898);    Sharpe,   Hand-List  Bds.    i.  p.    113 

(1899)  =  Podiceps. 


AVES PODICIPEDID^E. 


59 


Geographical  Range. — The  world  at  large. 

FIG.  29. 


Podicipcs  domiiiicus.     Female.     Showing  relative  length  of  primaries  and  secondaries.     From 
material  in  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History.     Natural  size. 

PODICIPES  DOMINI cus  (Linnaeus). 

Le  Grebe  de  riviere  de  S.  Domingue,  Briss.  Orn.  VI.  p.  64,  pi.  v.  fig.  2 

(1760). 
Colynibiis  dominions,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  223  (1766)  ex  Briss.;  Licht. 

Verz.  Doubl.  p.  87  (1823:  Montevideo). 
Le  Castagneux  de  Saint-Domingue,  Buff.   Hist.   Nat.  Ois.  VIII.  p.  248 

(1781). 

White-winged  Grebe,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  i.  p.  291  (1785). 
Podiceps  dominicus,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  II.  p.  785  (1790);  Gray,  Gen.  B.  iii. 

p.  633  (1846);  Burm.  J.  b.  O.  1860,  p.  268  (Mendoza) ;  id.  La  Plata 

Reis.   II.   p.   521    (1861);  Schl.  Mus.  Pays-Bas,   VI.   Urinat.   p.   47 

(1867:  Chile);  Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgw.  Water  Birds,  N.  Amer.  II. 

p.  438  (1884);  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  pt.  X.  p. 

249  (1888:  Patagonia). 
Colymbus  dominicensis,  D'Orb.  in  Ramon  de  la  Sagra  Hist.  Cuba,  Ois.  p. 

282  (1839).      Scott,   Auk,  VIII.    p.   354  (1891)   (Jamaica  breeding 

September). 
Tachybaptus  dominicus,  Bonap.  C.  R.  xlii.  p.  775  (1856);  Scl.  &  Salv. 


60  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Nomencl.   Av.   Neotr.    p.    150    (1873);    Durnf.    Ibis,    1876,    p.    165 

(Montevideo);  White,   P.  Z.  S.   1882,  p.  629  (Punta  Lara,  Buenos 

Ay  res). 
Sylbeocyclus  dominions,  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1862,  p.  232;   Scl.  & 

Salv.  Exotic  Orn.  II.  p.  190  (1869). 
Tachybaptes  dominions,  Durnf.  Ibis,  1877,  p.  203  (Buenos  Ayres);   1878, 

p.  405  (Chupat  river:  Sengelen  &  Sengel  Valleys);  Withington  Ibis, 

1888,  p.  473  (Lomas  de  Zamora);  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p. 

205  (1889);  Holland  Ibis,  1892,  p.  214  (Argentine  Republic). 
Podicipes  dominions,  Grant,  Cat.  B.   Brit.   Mus.  XXVI.  p.  520  (1898); 

Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  113  (1899);    Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit. 

Mus.  I.  p.  134  (1901). 

FIG.   30. 


Podicipes  dominions.     Male.     From  material  in  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History.      ^ 

natural  size. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size  (adults  in  breeding  plumage). — Total  length,  8.5  inches. 

Oilmen  (from  feathers  of  forehead),  0.8  to  0.9  inches. 

Wing,  3.70  to  3.85  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.15  to  1.25  inches. 

Color  (adults  in  breeding  plumage). — General  color  of  upper  parts 
brownish  black,  with  a  faint  greenish  gloss ;  of  lower  parts  greyish  on  the 
neck,  becoming  shining  polished  white  on  the  breast  and  belly,  mottled 
somewhat  with  dusky. 


AVES PODICIPEDID^. 


61 


Head  :  Forehead  and  crown  black  with  a  greenish  gloss  ;  sides  of  head 
ashy  grey. 

Neck :  Upper  part  blackish  with  a  green  gloss,  strongest  at  the  portion 
nearest  the  head.  Chin  and  throat  dull  sooty  black.  Rest  of  the  neck 
greyish  ash,  shading  into  brownish  grey  in  the  region  where  the  neck  joins 
the  body. 

Back :  Brownish  black  with  a  slight  greenish  gloss ;  sides  of  the  lower 
back  and  rump  white. 

Wing :  General  color  like  the  back.  The  inner  webs  of  the  outer  pri- 
maries chiefly  white,  increasing  so  that  the  inner  primaries  have  white 
inner  webs.  The  secondaries  are  white  with  a  brown  band  on  the  mar- 
gin of  the  outer  web.  Under  wing-coverts  white. 

Lower  parts  as  described,  with  the  chest,  sides  and  flanks  washed  with 
shining  reddish  brown.  The  thighs  and  vent  as  well  as  the  under  tail 
coverts  are  dusky. 

Tail :  Like  the  back  but  more  dusky. 

"  Iris  orange ;  bill  black  with  whitish  tip ;  feet  black  tinged  with  greyish." 
(George  N.  Lawrence.) 

FIG.  31. 


Podicipes  dominicus.     Immature  female.     From  material  in  the  American  Museum  of  Natural 
History.      ^  natural  size. 

Adults  at  other  than  breeding  season,  have  the  top  of  the  head,  neck 
and  upper  parts  as  well  as  the  foreneck  and  chest  much  browner,  the  chin 
and  throat  being  white. 

Geographical  Range. — The  Greater  Antilles,  Southern  Texas,  Central 
America  and  South  America  to  Patagonia. 


62  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

The  Princeton  Expeditions  did  not  procure  this  species  in  Patagonia 
and  the  description  is  based  on  material  in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural 
History  as  well  as  in  the  Academy  of  Sciences  in  Philadelphia,  and  in  the 
American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  New  York. 

"Mr.  Gosse  found  nests  with  four  eggs  in  August,  but  as  the  birds  had 
almost  assumed  their  full  breeding  plumage  in  January,  I  conclude  that 
the  record  of  August  nesting  must  be  that  of  a  second  brood. 

"At  Priestmans  River  (Jamaica,  W.  I.)  January  7,  1891,  I  found  this  a 
rather  common  species  apparently  mated.  A  male'  taken  in  full  plumage 
had  the  testes  as  large  as  the  largest  buckshot.  At  the  same  locality, 
January  20,  1891,  a  male  taken  (10485)  is  apparently  in  the  plumage  of 
the  first  year.  No  black  about  the  throat  and  much  lighter  throughout  in 
color  than  birds  in  full  plumage.  .  .  .  The  sides  were  dull  greenish  yellow. 
At  the  same  locality  on  January  23,  1891,  I  took  four  individuals  in  a 
shallow  pond.  Three  were  females  and  one  a  male.  The  females  all 
appeared  about  to  breed.  In  one  the  yolk  was  almost  or  quite  developed 
and  the  first  egg  would  have  been  laid  in  a  week  at  latest.  The  other 
two  would  have  bred  in  the  next  four  or  five  weeks.  These  four  birds 
were  all  in  full  plumage.  Many  individuals  were  seen  beside  those  that 
were  captured,  and  the  birds  were  abundant  at  this  point  though  of  course 
local  in  distribution. 

"From  Mr.  Taylor's  notes  I  add  the  following:  'Three  eggs  in  my 
possession  were  taken  in  the  month  of  September,  1888,  from  a  pond  at 
"New  Works"  a  few  from  Linstead  in  St.  Calhumus'"  (Jamaica,  W.  I.) 
(Scott,  Observations  on  The  Birds  of  Jamaica,  West  Indies.  Auk,  VIII. 

4,  PP-  354,  355,  1891.) 

The  above  details  of  the  breeding  period  of  this  grebe  in  a  restricted 
geographical  range  seem  to  show  a  prolonged  breeding  season,  from  late 
January  to  September ;  or  it  may  be  more  probably  a  matter  of  individual 
variation  as  to  the  breeding  time. 

Mr.  Frank  M.  Chapman  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  American  Museum  of 
Natural  History,  Vol.  XII.  p.  255,  December  1899,  has  described  two 
geographical  races  of  Podicipes  dominictis  which  he  discriminates  as  being 
the  mainland  representatives  of  this  little  grebe.  Under  the  head  of 
Cofymbus  dominions  brachyrhynchus,  a  bird  from  Matto  Grosso,  Brazil, 
(No.  34872,  Coll.  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist,  male,  Chapada,  Matto  Grosso, 
Brazil,  September  19,  1883.  Collected  by  H.  H.  Smith),  being  dis- 


AVES PODICIPEDID^E.  63 

criminated  from  the  insular  form  as  having  a  bill  much  shorter  and  more 
slender.and  with  less  fuscous  color  on  the  sides  and  flanks. 

In  addition  a  race  is  described  from  Texas  (based  on  No.  11.  Coll.  of 
George  B.  Sennett,  male,  Lomita  Ranch,  Lower  Rio  Grande,  Texas, 
April  27,  1878.  Collected  by  George  B.  Sennett),  which  is  character- 
ized as  being  similar  to  Colymbus  dominions,  but  with  shorter  wings  and 
bill,  and  having  less  fuscous  on  the  sides  and  flanks  as  well  as  being 
whiter  on  the  underparts.  Through  the  kindness  of  the  authorities  in  the 
American  Museum  I  have  examined  both  of  these  types  and  conclude 
that  they  present  sufficient  valid  characteristics  to  discriminate  them  from 
the  insular  form ;  but  inasmuch  as  I  have  been  unable  to  examine  speci- 
mens from  Patagonia,  I  must  refer  the  bird  from  that  region  to  Podicipes 
dominicns,  though  it  seems  probable  that  it  will  be  found  to  approach,  if 
not  to  be  the  same  as,  the  Colymbus  dominiciis  brachypterus  of  Chapman- 


PODICIPES  AMERICANUS  Garnot. 

Podiceps  americanns,  Garn.  Voy.  Coq.  Zool.  I.  p.  599    (1826:    Chile); 

Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  633  (1846);    Des  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil. 

Zool.  I.  p.  465  (1847) ;  Schl.  Mus.  Pays-Bas,  VI.  Urinat.  p.  42  (1867: 

Chile);  Gray,  Hand-List  B.  III.  p.  95,  no.  10769  (1871);  Oust.  Miss. 

Sci.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  p.  235  (1891). 
Podiceps  chiliensis,  Garn.  Voy.  Coq.  Zool.  I.  p.  60 1   (1826:  Concepcion) ; 

Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  633  (1846). 
Podiceps  albicollis,   Less.    Traite  d'Orn.  p.  594  (1831);  Puch.   Mag.   de 

Zool.  1851,  p.  571. 
Podiceps  chilensis,  Gould,  Voy.   'Beagle,'  Birds,  p.    137  (1841:  Buenos 

Ayres) ;  Gay,  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  464  (1847) ;  Reichenb.  Syst.  Av. 

Natatores,  pi.  13.  fig.  750  (1848);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867,  p.  340;  Gray, 

Hand-List  B.  III.  p.  94,  no.  10767  (1871). 
Podiceps  rollandi,  Gould,   (nee  Quoy  et  Gaim.)  Voy.   'Beagle,'  Birds,  p. 

137,  part   (1841:    near    Straits  of   Magellan   and    eastern  coast  of 

Chiloe);  Eraser,  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  p.  119  (Chile);  Gray,  List  B.  part  iii. 

p.  151   part  (1844);    Des  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  463 

(1847) ;  Pelz.  Reise  Novara.  Voy.  p.  140  (1865:  Chile) ;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S. 

1867,  p.  340;  Scl.  &  Salv.  Ibis,  1868,  p.  189  (Straits  of  Magellan); 


64  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 

iid.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  146  (Conchitas);  iid.  Exot.  Orn.  II.  p.  190, 
part  (1869)  ;  Newt.  Ibis,  1869,  p.  241,  note  (Halt  Bay) ;  Scl.  &  Salv. 
t  c.  p.  284;  Cunn.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.  pp.  222,  348  (1871); 
Huds.  P.  Z.  S.  1872,  p.  549  (Rio  Negro);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl. 
Av.  Neotr.  p.  150,  part  (1873);  Durnf.  Ibis,  1877,  p.  45  (Chupat 
river);  Gibson,  Ibis,  1880,  p.  164  (breeding  habits);  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S. 

1 88 1,  p.  17  (S.  Chile;   Str.  Magellan:  Patagonia);  White,   P.  Z.  S. 

1882,  p.  629  (Alto  Parana,  Paraguayan  coast),  1883,  p.  43  (Cosquin, 
Cardova) ;    Salv.  t.  c.  p.  432  (Talcahuano) ;    Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  317 
(1884:    Lower  Uruguay);   Scl.  &  Hudson,  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  204 
(1889);  Graham  Kerr,  Ibis,  1890,  p.  358  (Rio  Pilcomayo);  Oust.  Sci. 
Miss.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  p.  233,  part  (1891)  ;  Scl.  Ibis,  1891,  p.  16 
(Argentine  Republic);  Graham  Kerr,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  151  (Pilcomayo); 
Holland,  t.  c.  p.  214  (Estancia  Espartilla) ;    Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb. 
Suppl.  IV.  p.  651  (1898:  Llanquihue). 

Rollandia  micra,  Bonap.  C.  R.  xlii,  p.  775  (1856). 

Tachybaptus  americanus,  Bonap.  torn.  cit.  p.  775  (1856). 

Tachybaptus  chilensis,  Bonap.  torn.  cit.  p.  775  (1856). 

Podiceps  rollandii,  Leybold  (nee  Q.  &  G.)  Excurs.  Pampas  Argentinas,  p.  20 

(1873). 
Podiceps  leucotis,  Tacz.  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  563  (Central  Peru). 

Podicipes  rollandi,  Lane  (nee  Q.  &  G.),  Ibis,  1897,  p.  313  (Chile). 
Podicipes  americanus,  Grant,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVI.  p.  524  (1898); 

Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  114  (1899);    Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov. 

(2)  xx.  p.  633  (1900:    Punta  Arenas,  June);    Oates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs, 

Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  135,  pi.  XI.  fig.  8  (1901). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size  (adults  in  breeding  plumage). — Total  length,  about  1 1.5  inches. 

Oilmen  (from  feathers  of  forehead),  0.65  to  0.85  inches. 

Wing,  4.3  to  4.5  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.4  inches. 

Color  (adult  in  breeding  plumage). — General  color  above,  black  with 
some  greenish  gloss ;  below,  except  the  neck,  dull  grey  with  a  strong 
admixture  of  rufous,  and  of  glossy  silk  texture. 

Head :  Black,  with  green  gloss  and  an  admixture  of  dull  rufous  on  the 


AVES PODICIPEDID^E. 


forehead,  and  crown,  the  feathers  of  which  are  lengthened  forming  a  crest. 
The  elongated  feathers  of  the  sides  of  the  crown  are  white  at  their  bases 
and  have  black  tips.  These  feathers  partially  hide  the  pure  white  ear 
coverts. 

Neck :   Black  of  a  dull  sooty  character  throughout ;  FIG.  32. 

some  greenish  gloss  on  the  upper  part  and  with  an 
appreciable  admixture  of  sandy  rufous  caused  by  the 
tips  of  each  feather. 

Back:    Black,   with  a  strong  greenish  gloss,   each 
feather  being  tipped  and  edged  with  sandy  brown. 

Wing:  In  general  the  closed  wing  is  colored  like 
the  back.  The  primaries  dark  ash,  white  toward  the 
basal  half  of  the  inner  web.  The  amount  of  white 
increases  on  the  inner  webs,  becoming  almost  entirely 
white  on  the  inner  primary.  The  secondaries  are  Po&cipesamericajtus. 
pure  white,  except  the  outermost  and  several  of  the  7  °7' 

r  versity  Collection. 

innermost  which  are  ashy  brown  along  the  shafts  Adult  female  Profile 
and  at  the  extremities.  The  lower  wing  coverts  are  of  head  and  neck.  y2 

white.  natural  size. 

Tail :  Like  the  back  in  color. 

Lower  parts  dull  grey,  with  a  strong  admixture  of  rufous  and  dusky, 
the  whole  of  silky  gloss  texture.  On  the  belly  and  the  region  of  the 
vent  the  dusky  admixture  has  a  more  or  less  barred  appearance.  The 
feathers  of  the  sides  and  flanks  are  most  strongly  marked  with  bright 
rufous  and  have  dusky  tips.  The  above  description  is  based  on  an  adult 
female  No.  7807  Princeton  University  Collection,  taken  at  Cape  Fair- 
weather,  Patagonia,  7  February,  1898. 

"Iris  red;  bill  black;  legs  and  toes  slate  color."     (H.  Whiteley.) 
Dr.  Coppinger  says  the  feet  are  "grey,  dark  grey,  or  olive  green." 
When  not  in  breeding  plumage  the  adult  birds  are  similar.     There  is 
however  much  less  elongation  to  the  crown  feathers,  the  chin  and  throat 
are  pure  white,  and  the  neck  is  otherwise  snuff  brown,  both  above  and 
below.     The  crown  of  the  head  is  black  with  a  green  gloss,  the  ear  coverts 
are  white  obscured  somewhat  by  the  black  tips  of  the  feathers  on  the  sides 
of  the  head.     The  feathers  of  the  crown  are  edged  and  tipped  with  sandy 
brown.     The  lower  parts,  except  the  neck,  are  dull  whitish  with  a  vinous 
tinge  strongest  on  the  sides  and  breast.    * 


66  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 

This  description  is  taken  from  an  adult  female,  no.  7809,  Princeton 
University  Collection  obtained  at  Rio  Gallegos,  Patagonia,  May  21,  1896. 


Geographical  Range.  —  Central  and  Southern  South  America,  Peru, 
Argentine  Republic  and  Uruguay  to  the  Straits  of  Magellan. 

A  young  bird,  no.  8327  Princeton  University  Collection,  taken  at  Arroyo 
Eke,  Patagonia,  14  April,  1898,  has  the  following  characteristics.  The 

entire  body,  including  the  wings,  and  the  lower  neck 
where  it  joins  the  breast  is  in  a  plumage  very  like 
that  of  the  non-breeding  period  of  the  adult.  The 
bird  has  evidently  fully  completed  a  moult  from  the 
down  stage  for  the  parts  spoken  of,  and  though  the 
neck  and  head,  about  to  be  described  in  detail,  have 
also  gone  through  a  similar  moult,  they  still  retain 
a  semi-down  kind  of  feathering. 

The  color  of  the  neck  from  the  breast  to  the  head 
is  deep    isabelline,  the  throat  and    chin  pure  white. 

Podicipesamericanus.  There  js  a  central  crown  stripe  of  sancjy  rufous,  CX- 
8327.  Princeton  Uni-  ,.  ,,  .,  .  „,....  111 

versity  Collection.  Pro-    tendmg  wel1  on  to  the  occiput.     This  is  bounded  by  a 
file  of  head  of  young.       rather  broader  black  stripe  on  each  side.     These  stripes 

are  denned  in  their  turn  by  superciliary  stripes  that 
are  bright  rufous  where  they  begin  to  show  on  the  forehead  and  gradually 
they  become  lighter  until  they  are  concolorous  with  the  hind  neck.  There 
is  a  narrow  black  stripe  beginning  on  the  forehead  and  reaching  back 
above  the  eye,  becoming  broader  and  less  well  defined  behind.  The 
forehead  and  lores  are  sandy  brown.  Below  the  eye  another  black  stripe 
starts  at  the  angle  of  the  mouth,  proceeding  backward  to  the  region  of  the 
ear  coverts.  Back  of  the  eye  an  isabelline  stripe  divides  the  upper  and 
lower  black  eye  stripes.  Below  the  lower  black  eye  stripe  is  another  light 
stripe,  pale  rufous  where  it  originates  at  the  mouth  and  becoming  isabelline 
or  almost  white  posteriorly.  Very  narrow  black  stripes  define  the  line  of 
the  jaws  on  each  side  of  the  throat  for  about  half  an  inch. 

A  young  bird,  almost  full  grown,  but  in  the  down  plumage  throughout, 
No.  7808  « Princeton  University  Collection,  taken  at  Cape  Fairweather, 
Patagonia,  7  February,  1898,  is,  I  suspect,  one  of  a  brood  of  young 


AVES PODICIPEDIDyE. 


67 


FIG.  34. 


belonging  to  the  adult  female  No.  7807,  described.  The  down  is  marked 
off  into  color  areas  on  the  body  much  as  in  the  adult.  The  upper  parts 
are  dusky  or  blackish,  with  sandy  and  rufous  brown  fringing  to  the  down 
feathers.  The  sides  and  flanks  are  much  like  the  back,  but  the  fringing 
to  the  feathers  is  greyer.  The  region  about  the  vent 
is  similar  to  the  sides.  The  abdomen,  breast  and 
chest  are  white  shading  into  the  color  of  the  sides 
and  flanks. 

The  neck  and  head  are  striped  longitudinally  with, 
rufus,  blackish  and  white  stripes,  except  on  the  back 
of  the  neck  which  is  dull  black,  much  like  the  back, 
and  with  some  faint  sandy  brown  fringing  to  the 
down  feathers. 

The  Princeton  University  Collections  contain  a 
series  of  four  of  these  birds.  It  is  evident  that  nest- 


Podicipes  americamis. 
7808.     Princeton  Uni- 


ing  must  occur  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Fairweather,    versity Collection.  Pro- 
Patagonia,  late  in  December  and  that  the  exact  time    JleJ0f.,Iieadl  of 
of  breeding  varies  somewhat  in  different  parts  of  the 
area  under  consideration. 


bird  still  in  down  plum- 
age. 


P.  U.  O.  C.  No. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

Skin. 
tt 

ti 

it 

7807 
7808 
7809 
8327 

9  Adult  (breed- 
ing)- 
tf  Young  in  down. 

9  Ad.  winter 
plumage. 
9  Young  of  year. 

Cape  Fairweather, 
Patagonia. 
Cape  Fairweather, 
Patagonia. 
Rio  Gallegos, 
Patagonia. 
Arroyo  Eke, 
Patagonia. 

7  February,  1898. 
7  February,  1898. 
21  May,  1898. 
14  April,  1898. 

J.  B.  Hatcher. 

« 
« 
« 

This  grebe  is  apparently  a  permanent  resident  even  as  far  south  as 
Sandy  Point,  for  Dr.  Cunningham  speaks  of  it  as  follows  under  head  of 
June  8th,  the  mid-winter  of  Patagonia:  "A  specimen  of  a  curious  little 
grebe  (Podiceps  rollandi},  very  common  in  the  Strait,  but  difficult  to 
shoot  on  account  of  its  activity  in  diving,  was  in  addition  procured,  be- 
ing found  by  one  of  the  officers  frozen  into  the  ice  of  a  small  stream." 
(Nat.  Hist.  Strs.  Mag.,  p.  222,  1871.)  The  party  were  ashore  at  Sandy 
Point  o'n  this  day,  and  the  bird  referred  to  as  Podiceps  rollandi  was 
Podicipes  americanus,  P.  rollandi,  so  far  as  known,  being  restricted  to  the 
Falkland  Islands. 


68  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Of  the  American  grebe  as  he  met  with  it  in  Patagonia  Mr.  J.  B. 
Hatcher  writes  (MSS.  notes):  "Abundant  in  marshes  and  streams  all 
over  Patagonia,  and  of  the  same  general  habits  as  the  "hell  diver  (P. 
podicipes}." 

"  In  cruising  about  the  bay  (Halt  Bay)  we  saw  numerous  individuals 
of  a  little  grebe,  the  Podiceps  rollandi,  common  in  the  Strait  and  Chan- 
nels, but  very  difficult  to  shoot,  on  account  of  the  rapidity  with  which  it 
dives,  and  the  impossibility  of  predicting  in  what  direction  it  will  come  up. 
One  was  at  length  shot,  and  I  was  struck  by  the  exquisite  ruby  red  color 
of  the  eye.  They  possess  an  exceedingly  unpleasant  fishy  odour,  which 
becomes  very  perceptible  in  the  process  of  skinning  them."  (Cunn.  Nat. 
Hist.  Str.  Magell.,  p.  348,  1871.) 

The  bird  referred  to  by  Cunningham  as  Podiceps  rollandi  is  undoubt- 
edly Podicipes  americanus. 


PODICIPES    ROLLANDI    Gould. 

Podiceps  rolland,    Quoy  &  Gaim.    Voy.   Uranie,  p.    133,  pi.   36   (1824: 

Falkland  Islands). 

Podiceps  rollandi,  Gould,  Voy.  'Beagle,'  Birds,  p.  137,  part  (1841  :  Falk- 
land Isl.);  Gray,  List  B.  part  iii.  p.  151,  pt.  (1844);  id.  Gen.  B.  III. 

p.  633  (1846);  Reichenb.  Syst.  Av.  Natatores,  pi.  13.  figs.  751-752 

(1848);  Gould,   P.  Z.  S.  1859,  p.  98  (Falkland  Isl.);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S. 

1860,  p.  389;  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  162;  Scl.  &  Salv.  Exot.  Orn.  II. 

p.  190  part  (1869);  iid.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  150  (1873);  Oust. 

Sci.  Miss.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  p.  233,  part  (1891). 
Rollandia  leucotis,  Cuv.,  teste  Bonap.  C.  R.  xlii.  p.  775  (1856). 
Podiceps  rollandii,  Schl.  Mus.  Pays-Bas,  Urinat.  p.  42  (1867:  Falkland 

Isl.). 
Podiceps  leucotis,  Cuv.;  teste  Gray,  Hand-List  B.  III.  p.  94,  no.  10755 

(1871). 
Podicipes  rollandi,    Grant,    Cat.    B.    Brit.    Mus.    XXVI.    p.   526   (1898); 

Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  114  (1899). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Total  length,  about  14  inches. 


AVES PODICIPEDIDyE.  69 

Oilmen  (from  feathers  on  forehead),  i  to  1.2  inches. 
Wing,  5.3  to  5.5  inches. 
Tarsus,  1.8  inches. 

Color  (adults  in  breeding  plumage). — General  coloration  like  that  of 
P.  americanus  except  the  lower  parts  (breast  and  belly)  which  are  much 

FIG.  35. 


Podicipes  rollandi.     Profile  of  head.     Natural  size.     Adult  male.     From  specimen  in  the  British 

Museum. 

brighter,  being  rufescent  chestnut.     The  green  gloss  of  the  upper  parts  is 
also  much  more  pronounced. 


Geographical  Range. — The  Falkland  Islands. 


The  much  larger  size  and  the  chief  difference  in  color  noted  above  will 
serve  at  once  to  discriminate  P,  rollandi  from  its  close  ally  P.  americamis. 
The  measurements  and  description  given  are  based  on  material  in  the 
British  Museum  of  Natural  History,  for  the  Princeton  Expeditions  did 
not  explore  the  Falkland  Islands.  In  view  of  the  lack  of  material  it  is  not 
possible  to  notice  the  non-breeding  plumage  of  this  grebe,  but  it  seems 


70  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

probable  that  it  does  not  differ  greatly  from  the  non-breeding  state  of 
plumage,  occurring  in  P.  americanus.  The  breeding  season  of  P.  rollandi 
is  much  later  than  that  of  P.  americanus,  or  at  least  extends  over  a  longer 
period,  as  individuals  in  the  British  Museum  collections  taken  in  June  are 
still  in  breeding  plumage. 


PODICIPES    CALIPAREUS    (LeSSOn). 

Podiceps  calipareus,  Less.  Voy.  Coq.  Zool.  I.  p.  727,  pi.  XLV  (1826: 
Falkland  Isl.);  Gould.  P.  Z.  S.  1859,  p.  98;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p. 
389;  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  162  (E.  Falkland  Isl.);  Pelz.  Reise 
Novara,  Vog.  p.  140  (Chile);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867,  p.  340  (Chile); 
Durnf.  Ibis,  1877,  p.  45  (Chupat  River),  1878,  p.  405  (Central  Pata- 
gonia) ;  Graham  Kerr,  Ibis,  1890,  p.  358  (Rio  Pilcomayo) ;  Scl.  P.  Z. 
S.  1891,  p.  137  (Tarapaca). 

Podiceps  occipitalis,  Garn.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  VII.  p.  50  (1826":  Falkland  Isl.) ; 
Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  633  (1846);  Schl.  Mus.  Pays-Bas,  VI.  Urinat. 
p.  41  (1867:  Falkland  Isl.,  Chile);  Oust.  Sci.  Miss.  Cap  Horn, 
Oiseaux,  p.  317  (1891). 

Podiceps  kalipareus,  Gould,  Voy.  'Beagle,'  Birds,  p.  136  (1841:  Bahia 
Blanca:  Falkland  Isl.);  Fraser,  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  p.  119  (Valparaiso 
Bay);  Gray,  List  B.  part  iii.  p.  150  (1844);  id.  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  633 
(1846)  ;  Des  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  464  (1847) ;  Yarrell; 
P.  Z.  S.  1847,  p.  55  (egg);  Reichenb.  Syst.  Av.  Natatores,  pi.  n.  figs. 
69,  70  (1848);  Gray,  Hand-List  B.  III.  p.  94  no.  10756  (1871), 
Leybold,  Excurs.  Pampas  Argentinas,  p.  20  (1871). 

Poliocephalus  occipitalis  Bonap.  C.  R.  xlii.  p.  775  (1856). 

Podiceps .  caliparceus,  Scl.  &  Salv.  Exot.  Orn.  II.  p.  190  (1869);  iid.  P.  Z. 
S.  1869,  p.  158  (Tungasuca);  iid.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  150(1873); 
White,  P.  Z.  S.  1883,  p.  43  (Cosquin,  Cordova);  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent. 
Orn.  II.  p.  204  (1889);  Schalow.  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  651 
(1898:  Talcalmano;  Valparaiso). 

Podiceps  caliparius,  Scl.  &  Salv.  Ibis,  1869,  p.  284  (Chiloe);  Cunn.  Nat. 
Hist.  Str.  Magell.  p.  339  (1871). 

Podiceps  calliparitis,  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1879,  p.  641  (Potosi, 
Bolivia). 


AVES PODICIPEDID^E.  71 

Podicipes  calipareus,  Lane,  Ibis,  1897,  p.  313  (Lake  Huasco);  Grant,  Cat. 
B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVI.  p.  536  (1898);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  114 

(1899). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Total  length,  about  10.5  inches. 

Culmen  (from  feathers  on  forehead),  0.75  to  0.80  inches. 

Wing,  5.2  to  5.5  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.65  inches. 

Color  (adults  in  breeding  plumage). — General  color  above  dark  slaty 
grey ;  lower  parts  glossy  white,  with  the  sides  and  flanks  shaded  with  dark 
slate  color. 

Head :  Forehead  and  crown  grey  mouse-brown,  occiput  deep  black. 
The  superciliary  feathers,  the  cheeks  and  the  ear  coverts  dull  golden  straw 

FIG.  36.  FIG.   37.  FIG.  38. 


Podicipes  calipareus.      Profile  Podicipes  calipareus.   De-           Podicipes   calipareus.     Profile 

of  head  and  neck.     Adult  male,  tail   of    foot.      %    natural  of  head  and  neck.    Adult  female. 

P.  U.  O.  C.     8829.      y^  natural  size.  j£  natural  size, 
size. 

color,  all  having  together  with  the  feathers  of  the  crown,  hair-like  filaments 
or  tips  which  form  a  ruff-like  hood. 

Neck :  Above  deep  black  shading  into  lead  or  slate  on  the  sides  and 
being  pure  white  below,  except  on  the  chin  and  throat  which  are  like 
the  sides  of  face  and  top  of  head,  light  mouse-brown,  forming  the  char- 
acteristic grebe  hood. 

Back :  Dark  slate  grey. 

Wings :  The  upper  coverts  are  like  the  back  in  color.  The  primary 
quills  are  brownish  grey,  the  inner  five  or  six  being  margined  with  white 
at  the  tips.  The  secondaries  are  white,  with  the  outer  webs  partly  mar- 


72  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS!     ZOOLOGY. 

gined  with  greyish  brown.  In  many  adults  this  greyish  brown  margin  is 
almost  absent,  the  secondaries  being  nearly  or  quite  white. 

Lower  parts :  Chin  and  throat  grey  mouse  color.  Rest  of  lower  parts 
shining  satiny  white  shaded  on  the  sides  and  flanks  with  dark  slate. 

"Iris  crimson;  bill  dark  brown;  legs  and  feet  pale  slate."  (H.  Durn- 
ford.) 

The  adult  female  in  breeding  plumage  is  similar  to  the  adult  male, 
except  that  the  area  of  black  on  the  occiput  is  not  so  extensive,  nor  are 
the  plumes  of  the  ear-coverts  as  elongated. 

Adults  in  non-breeding  plumage  are  much  like  those  in  nuptial  dress, 
except  that  they  lack  the  straw  colored  feathers  above  described  as  well 
as  the  filaments  to  the  crown  feathers. 

Immature  birds  are  like  the  adults  in  non-breeding  plumage  except 
that  the  occiput  and  back  of  neck  are  dull  white  with  a  brownish  tinge. 

Geographical  Range.  -  -  Patagonia,  the  Straits  of  Magellan,  the  Falk- 
land Islands,  Chile  and  the  Argentine  Republic  northward  to  Peru. 

The  Princeton  University  Expeditions  did  not  secure  this  species  and 
the  above  measurements  and  descriptions  are  based  on  examples  of  this 
bird  in  the  collections  of  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History,  and  on 
two  individuals  in  the  Princeton  University  Museum,  from  Museo  de  La 
Plata,  cited  in  full  below. 


P.  U.  0.  C.  No. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

Skin. 

tt 

54 
55 

Male. 
Female. 

Prov.  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina. 
Prov.  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina. 

January,  1898. 
January,  1898. 

Museo  de 
La  Plata. 

Darwin  in  his  Voyage  of  the  Beagle  writes:  "My  specimens  were  ob- 
tained from  Bahia  Blanca  (September),  Northern  Patagonia,  and  the 
Falkland  Islands.  In  the  former  place  it  lived  in  small  flocks  in  the 
salt-water  channels,  extending  between  the  great  marshes  at  the  head 
of  the  harbour.  At  the  Falkland  Islands  I  saw  (March)  very  few  in- 
dividuals ;  and  these  only  in  one  small  fresh-water  lake.  Tarsi  of  the 
same  color  as  the  plumage  of  the  back ;  iris  of  a  beautiful  tint,  between 
'scarlet  and  carmine  red';  pupil  black.  Mr.  Gould  remarks  that, 
'This  beautiful  species  of  Podiceps  is  equal  in  size,  and  has  many  of  the 


AVES PODICIPEDID^E. 


73 


characters  of  the  P.  auritus,  but  it  is  at  once  distinguished  from  that 
species  by  the  silvery  colouring  of  the  plumes  that  adorn  the  sides  of 
the  head;  which  in  P.  auritus  are  deep  chestnut"  (Gould,  Voy.  "Beagle," 
Birds,  p.  136,  1841). 


Genus  ^CHMOPHORUS  Coues. 


Type. 


,  Coues,  P.  Acad.  Sci.  Philad.  1862,  p. 
229;  Ogilvie-Grant,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVI. 
p.  549  (1898);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  115 
(1899) Al.  occidentalis. 


Geographical  Range.  —  North  America  and  Central  and  Southern  parts 
of  South  America  to  the  Straits  of  Magellan. 


FIG.  39. 


^ECHMOPHORUS  MAJOR  (Boddaert). 

Grebe  de  Cayenne,  D'Aubent.  PI.  Enl.  IX.  pi.  404,  fig.  i  (1781). 
Le  Grand  Grebe,  Buff.  Hist.  Nat.  Ois.  viii.  p.  242  (1781). 
Colymbus  major,  Bodd.  Tabl.  PI.  Enl. 

p.  24  (1783). 
Cayenne  Grebe,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  iii. 

pt.  i.  p.  284  (1785). 
Colymbus  cayennensis,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat. 

i-  P-  593  (1788). 
Podiceps  cayanus,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  II. 

p.  781  (1790). 
Colymbus  bicornis,  Licht.  Verz.  Doubl. 

p.  88  (1823:  Montevideo). 
Podiceps     leucopterus,     King,     Zool. 

Journ.  IV.  p.  101  (1829:  Straits 

of  Magellan);  Gray,  List  B.  pt.  iii.  p.  149  (1844);  id.  Gen.  B.  III.  p. 

633  (1846);  Des.  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  463  (1847); 

Reichenb.  Syst.  Av.  Natatores,  pi.  VII.  figs.  740-741  (1848);  James, 

List  Chil.  B.  p.  15  (1885);  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III. 

pt.  X.  p.  249  (1888:   Patagonia). 


jEchmopltoms  major.  Male.  Museo  de 
La  Plata.  Outline  of  Wing,  showing  relative 
proportion  of  primary  and  secondary  quills. 


74 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 


Podiceps  longirostris,   Bonap.   Icon.  Faun.  Ital.  Introd.  p.    i   (1832-41  : 

Sardinia). 

f Podiceps  chilensis,  Eraser  (nee  Garn.),  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  p.  119  (Freshwater 
lakes  near  the  coast,  Chile);  Yarrell,  P.  Z.  S.  1847,  P-  55  (Chile:  egg). 
Podiceps  major,  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  633  (1846);  Schl.  Mus.  Pays-Bas, 
VI.  Urinat.  p.  38  (1867:  Chile);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Exot.  Orn.  II.  p.  190 
(1869);  iid.  Ibis,  1870,  p.  500  (St.  Nicholas  Bay,  Str.  Magellan); 
Cunn.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.  p.  458  (1871);  Huds.  P.  Z.  S.  1872, 
p.  549  (Rio  Negro);  Gibson,  Ibis,  1880,  p.  164  (Buenos  Ayres,  breed- 
ing); Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1883,  p.  432  (Coquimbo  Bay);  Burm.  An.  Mus. 
Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  pt.  X.  p.  249  (1888:  Patagonia);  Oust.  Miss. 
Sci.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  p.  232  (1891). 

Podiceps  bicornis,  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  633  (1846);  Bp.  C.  R.  xlii.  p.  775 
(1856);  Burm.  J.  f.  O.  1860,  p.  267  (Santa  Fe,  Rio  Parana);  id.  La 
Plata  Reis.  II.  p.  520  (1861  :  Parana);  Gray,  Hand-List  B.  III.  p.  93 
no  10742  (1871);  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  pt.  X.  p. 
249  (1888:  Patagonia). 

sEchniophorus  major,  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl. 
Av.  Neotr.  p.  150  (1873);  Durnf.  Ibis, 
1876,  p.  165  (Banda  Oriental:  Buenos 
Ayres),  1877,  p.  203  (Baradero;  Monte- 
video); 1878,  p.  405  (Chupat  Valley, 
September :  Lagoons  of  the  Sengel : 
Sengelen ;  Lake  Colgaupe);  White,  P. 
Z.  S.  1883,  p.  433  (La  Plata);  Barrows, 
Auk,  I.  p.  316  (1884:  Concepcion) ; 
Salvad.  Elenc.  Ucc.  Ital.  p.  300  (1887); 
Withington,  Ibis,  1888,  p.  473  (Lomas 
de  Zamora);  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn. 
II.  p.  202  (1889);  James,  New  List  Chil. 
B.  p.  13  (1892);  Holland,  Ibis,  1892,  p. 
213  (Estancia  Espartilla) ;  Lane,  Ibis, 
1897,  P-  3*3  (Puerto  Octay :  Rio  Bueno: 
Lake  Llanquehui) ;  Grant,  Cat.  B.  Brit. 
Mus.  XXVI.  p.  549  (1898):  Schalow, 

Zool.     Jahrb.    Suppl.    IV.    p.    652    (1898:     Villa    Rica:     Laguna 
Llanquihue :    Punta   Arenas,    Chile :    Susanna    Cove,    Patagonia)  ; 


FIG.  40. 


jEchmophorus  major.  7806.   Prince- 
ton University  Collection.     Breeding 
female.     Profile    of  head   and   neck, 
natural  size. 


AVES PODICIPEDID/E.  75 

Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.    115  (1899);    Martens,    Hamb.  Magalh. 
Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  23  (1900:  Str.  Magellan);  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov. 
(2)  XX.  p.  633  (1900:   Santa  Cruz,  Patagonia,  Jan.);    Gates,  Cat. 
Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  138,  pi.  XI.  fig.  9  (1901). 
Colymbus  salvadorii,  Stejn.  Bull.  U.  S.   Nat.  Mus.  XXIX,  p.  13  (1885). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Total  length,  about  26.00  inches. 

Culmen  (from  feathers  on  forehead),  2.8  to  3.3  inches. 

Wing,  2.7  to  3.3  inches.     Tarsus,  2.6  inches. 

Color. — General  color  above  brownish  black  glossed  with  dark  green, 
most  pronounced  on  the  head  and  neck.  The  under  parts  are  satiny 
white  from  the  lower  breast  backward ;  the  upper  breast  is  shaded  with 
silvery  rufous,  bright  chestnut  on  the  lower  part  of  the  neck,  up  to  the  head. 

Head  :  Top  of  head  and  occiput  dark  brownish  black  glossed  conspicu- 
ously with  green.  The  feathers  of  the  occiput  and  the  upper  part  of 
the  nape,  prolonged  into  a  full  though  short  crest.  Sides  of  head  deep 
lead  color,  darkest  in  the  region  back  of  the  ears,  and  shading  into  black- 
ish green. 

Neck:  Above  dark  brownish  black,  glossed  with  dark  green.  Sides 
and  under  parts  bright  chestnut  shading  into  silvery  chestnut  or  rufous  on 
the  lower  neck.  Chin  and  fore  part  of  neck  lead  color  like  the  sides  of 
the  face,  becoming  darkest,  almost  black,  where  it  is  sharply  defined  on  the 
lower  part  of  the  throat. 

Back:  Brownish  black,  not  so  dark  as  on  the  head  and  neck,  and 
glossed  with  greenish.  The  feathers  of  this  region  have  definite  brownish 
white  margins  as  have  also  the  scapulars.  The  lower  back  and  rump  are 
darker,  the  feathers  lack  the  brown-white  margins,  and  there  is  a  strong 
underlying  tinge  of  deep  chestnut. 

Wings :  Like  the  back  in  general  color  but  greyer.  The  outer  primaries 
are  ash  brown,  whitish  on  the  basal  half  of  their  inner  webs,  this  propor- 
tion of  white  gradually  increases  to  the  innermost  quills  which  are  nearly 
pure  white.  The  secondaries  are  white. 

Lower  parts :  Lower  breast  and  abdomen  satiny  white.  Upper  breast 
and  sides  of  breast  pale  rufous  shading  into  chestnut.  Remainder 
of  sides  and  the  flanks  brownish  ash  more  or  less  tinged  with  rufous. 


76 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 


This  description  is  based  on  an  adult  female  no.  7806,  Princeton  Uni- 
versity Ornithological  Collection,  taken  on  the  Pacific  Slope  of  the  Cor- 
dilleras, Patagonia,  16  March,  1897.  The  collector,  Mr.  J.  B.  Hatcher, 
notes  the  eyes  as  "brown  with  a  yellow  border." 

Immature  birds  resemble  the  adult,  but  differ  in  having  the  sides  of  the 
head  and  face,  and  the  chin  and  throat  white.  The  sides  and  fore  part  of 
the  neck  chiefly  greyish  tinged  with  chestnut.  The  sides  of  the  breast 
and  flanks  are  ashy-brown,  without  traces  of  chestnut. 

Young  in  Down. — The  general  color  of  the  upper  parts  as  well  as  of 
the  head  and  neck  black,  marked  with  longitudinal  stripes  of  white. 
FIG.  41.  FIG.  42.  FIG.  43. 


ALchmopkorus 
major.  7806. 
Princeton  Univer- 
sity Collection. 
Breeding  female. 
Detail  of  foot.  % 
natural  size. 


^Lchmophorus  major.  8636. 
Princeton  University  Collection. 
Immature.  Buenos  Aires.  Pro- 
file of  head  and  neck.  natural 


sze. 


jfechmopliorus  major.    8635. 

Princeton     University     Collection. 

Adult    female.     Winter.      Buenos 

Aires.     Profile  of  head  and  neck. 

natural  size. 


These  become  broken  and  irregular  on  the  crown  and  sides  of  the  head 
where  they  form  a  distinct  pattern.  There  is  a  naked  patch  on  the  middle 
of  the  crown.  Entire  lower  parts  including  the  throat  and  chin  white. 
The  descriptions  of  the  immature  and  of  the  down  plumage  are  taken 
from  material  in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History. 

The  adult  male  in  winter  is  not  so  highly  colored  as  in  the  breeding 
season  and  has  a  white  throat  and  a  white  area  in  front  of  the  eye.  The 
adult  female  in  winter  resembles  the  immature  bird. 


AVES PODICIPEDID^E. 


77 


FIG.  44. 


FIG.  45. 


sEchmophorus  major.  8633.  Princeton  University  ALchmophorus  major.  8633.  Prince- 
Collection.  Adult  male.  Winter.  Buenos  Aires,  ton  University  Collection.  Adult  male. 
Profile  of  head  and  neck.  %  natural  size.  Winter.  Buenos  Aires.  Detail  of  foot. 

Y^  natural  size. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Central  and  Southern  portion  of  South  America. 
Patagonia  to  the  Straits  of  Magellan. 


The  Princeton  Expeditions  to  Patagonia  procured  but  one  representative 
of  this  kind  of  grebe  which  is  cited  in  full  below.  This  bird  appears  to 
have  finished  breeding.  The  material  in  the  University  Museum  em- 
braces six  other  individuals  which  together  with  that  spoken  of  form  the 
basis  for  the  foregoing  descriptions. 


Cond. 

P.  U.  O.  C.  No. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

Skin. 

7806 

8633 
8634 

8635 
86?fi 

Female. 
Male. 
Male. 
Female. 
Female. 

Rio  Mayer  Patagonia. 
Prov.  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina. 
La  Plata,  Argentina. 
La  Plata,  Argentina. 
La  Plata,  Argentina. 

Mar.  1  6,  1897. 
July,  1898. 
July,  1896. 
August,  1897. 
July,  1896. 

J.  B.  Hatcher. 
MuseodeLaPlata 

S.  Pozzi. 
« 

ii 

H 

8637 

Male. 

La  Plata,  Argentina. 

June,  1896. 

« 

In  speaking  of  this  grebe  as  he  met  it  in  Patagonia,  Mr.  J.  B.  Hatcher 
writes  (MSS.  notes) :  "Found  solitary  or  in  pairs  in  lakes  along  the  lower 
Andes,  far  from  the  sea." 


78  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Mr.  Barrows  says :  "  Not  uncommon  at  Concepcion  during  cool  weather, 
both  on  the  river  and  on  smaller  streams.  My  dates  range  from  March 
25  to  September  26.  One,  which  I  shot  on  June  29,  had  only  long,  fine, 
water-grass  in  the  stomach,  not  even  the  smell  of  fish.  A  few  birds  of 
this  species  were  seen  in  the  salt  lakelet  of  Puan,  March  27,  1881.  In 
many  places  they  are  much  hunted  for  the  skins,  which  form  quite  an 
article  of  commerce  at  Buenos  Aires."  (Barrows,  Auk,  i.  p.  316,  1884.) 

"One  particularly  bright  and  cheerful  day  late  in  February,  as  I  rode 
through  the  woods  at  a  distance  of  some  five  miles  west  of  our  camp,  I 
came  upon  a  small,  nearly  circular  lake  of  about  one  mile  and  a  half  in 
diameter.  As  I  emerged  from  the  forest  and  sat  on  my  horse  by  the 
rocky  shore,  where  I  thought  to  stop  for  a  moment  and  admire  the  beauti- 
ful scene  before  me,  there  came  floating  across  the  water  from  the  far 
side  of  the  lake  a  low  plaintive  soun'd,  which  I  instantly  recognized  as 
that  of  the  grebe,  sEchmophorns  major.  In  this  sheltered  place  there 
was  not  a  sufficient  breeze  to  cause  the  slightest  ripple  on  the  surface  of 
the  lake,  which  for  an  instant  I  carefully  scanned,  hoping  to  get  sight  of 
the  flightless  bird  which  I  knew  must  be  present,  though  the  locality  was 
remote  from  its  normal  habitat.  For  a  few  moments,  save  the  low  plain- 
tive cry  which  was  wafted  at  intervals  from  the  opposite  side,  I  could  see 
nowhere  on  the  surface  of  the  lake  the  slightest  evidence  of  life.  A  little 
later,  however,  I  detected  a  wide  V-shaped  ripple  on  the  water,  with  a 
small  black  object  at  the  apex  which  was  directed  straight  toward  me 
from  the  opposite  shore.  For  a  time  I  remained  motionless  and  watched 
the  solitary  bird  as  he  sat  gracefully  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  with  his 
long  neck  erect,  and  held  a  perfectly  straight  course  for  the  beach  at  my 
feet,  continuing  to  utter  at  regular  intervals  those  singularly  plaintive 
notes  which  seemed  almost  as  though  intended  to  bespeak  from  me  com- 
miseration for  him  in  the  lonely  solitude  of  his  surroundings."  (Nar. 
Princ.  Univ.  Exp.  Pat.  1896-1899.  Hatcher;  Vol.  I.  p.  137,  1903.) 


Genus  PODILYMBUS  Lesson. 

Type. 

Podilymbus,  Lesson,  Traite  d'Orn.  p.  595  (1831) ;  Ogilvie- 
Grant,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVI.  p.  553  (1898); 
Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  115  (1899) P.  podicipes. 


AVES PODICIPEDID^E.  79 

Sylbeocyclus,   Bonap.   Saggio,  p.  86  (1832);  Sclater,  Ibis, 

1874,  p.  98 P.  podicipes. 

Hydroka,  Nuttall,  Man.  Orn.  p.  259  (1834) P.  podicipes. 

Nexiteles,  Gloger,  Hand-  u.  Hilfsb.  p.  473  (1842)     .     .     .  P.  podicipes. 

Geographical  Range.  —  North  and  South  America. 


PODILYMBUS  PODICIPES  (Linnaeus). 

The  Pied-bill  Dopchick,  Catesby,  Nat.  Hist.  Carol.  I.  p.  91,  pi.  91  (1731). 

Colymb^ts  podiceps,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  136  (1758). 

La  Grebe  de  1'Isle  S.  Thomas,  Briss.  Orn.  VI.  p.  58  (1760). 

La  Grebe  de  riviere  de  la  Caroline,  Briss.  torn.  cit.  p.  63. 

Le  Grebe  de  la  Louisiane,  D'Aubent.  PI.  Enl.  IX.  pi.  943  (1781). 

Le  Grebe  Duc-laart,  Buff.  Hist.  Nat.  Ois.  VIII.  p.  240  (1781). 

Le  Castagneux  a  bee  cercle,  Buff.  torn.  cit.  p.  247. 

Colymbus  ludomcianus,  Bodd.  Tabl.  PI.  Enl.  p.  56  ( 1 783) ;  Licht.   Verz. 

Doubl.  p.  88  (1823:  Montevideo). 

Red-bill  Grebe,  Pennant,  Arct.  Zool.  II.  p.  497,  pi.  xxii  (1785). 
Louisiane  Grebe,  Pennt.  torn.  cit.  p.  498. 

Black-breasted  Grebe,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  i.  p.  289  (1785). 
Colymbus  thomensis,  Gmel.  Syst.  Nat.  i.  p.  592  (1788). 
Podiceps  thomensis,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  II.  p.  784  (1790). 
Podiceps  carolinensis,  Lath.  torn.  cit.  p.  785 ;  Schl.  Mus.  Pays.  Bas,  VI. 

Urinat.  p.  47  (1867:  Santiago,  Chile). 
Podiceps  ludomciamis,  Lath.  torn.  cit.  p.  785. 
Sylbeocyclus  carolinensis,  Bonap.  Comp.  List  Eur.  &  N.  Amer.  B.  p.  64 

(1838). 
Colymbus  carolinensis,  D'Orb.  in  Ramon  de  la  Sagra  Hist.  Cuba,  Ois.  p. 

285  (1839). 
Podiceps  antarcticus,  Less.  Rev.  Zool.   1842,  p.  209  (Valparaiso);   Gray, 

Gen.  B.  III.  p.  633  (1846);  DesMurs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  i.  p. 

465  (1847);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867,  p.  337- 
Podilymbits  carolinensis,  Gray,  List-B.  part  iii.  p.  152  (1844);  Reichenb. 

Syst.   Av.   Natatores,   pi.   VIII.   figs.   756-757   (1848);    Pelz.   Reis. 

Novara,  p.  140  (1865:  Chile). 


8o 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 


Podilymbus  brevirostris,  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  pi.  clxxi  (1846). 

Podilimbus  brevirostris,   Reichenb.    Syst.  Av.  Natatores,  pi.  cclxvi.  fig. 

2236  (1848). 
Podilymbus  anisodactylus,  Reichenb.  Syst.  Av.  Natatores,  pi.  viii.  fig.  760 

(1848). 

Podilymbus  antarcticus,  Hartl.  Naum.  1853,  p.  218  (Valdivia);  Scl.  P.  Z. 
S.  1867,  p.  337  (Chile);  id.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  177  (Tambo 
Valley,  Peru);  Gray,  Hand-list  B.  III.  p.  95,  no.  10771  (1871);  Scl. 
&  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  150  (1873);  James,  List  Chil.  B.  p. 
15  (1885);  Tacz.  Orn.  Perou,  III.  p.  498  (1886);  James,  New  List 
Chil.  B.  p.  13  (1892);  Lane,  Ibis,  1897,  p.  314  (Rio  Bueno:  Llan- 
quehui:  Rio  Conta);  Schalow,  Zool.Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  650  (1898: 
Laguna  Llanquihue). 

Podilymbiis  lineatus,  Heerm.  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1854,  p.  179. 
Sylbeocyclus podic eps,  Bp.  C.  R.  XIII.  p.  775  (1856). 
Sylbeocyclus  antarcticus,  Bp.  t.  c.  p.  775. 
Sylbeocyclus  lineatus,  Bp.  t.  c.  p.  775. 

Podilymbus  podiceps,  Scl.  &  Salv.  Ibis,  1859,  p.  234  (Guatemala),   1870, 

p.  500  (Compana,  Straits  Magellan) ;  Cunn. 
Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.  p.  334  (1871);  Scl. 
&  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  150  (1873); 
Baird,  Brewer  and  Ridgw.  Water  Birds  N. 
Amer.  II.  p.  440  (1884);  Withington.  Ibis, 
1888,  p.  473  (Lomas  de  Zamora,  breeding) ; 
Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  206  (1889); 
Graham  Kerr,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  151  (Fontin 
Page,  Lower  Pilcomayo). 
Podilymbus  eurytes,  Gray,  Hand-List  B.  III.  p. 

95,  No.  10772  (1871). 

Podilymbus  podicipes,  Merriam,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn. 
Club,  VII.  p.  241  (1882);  Grant,  Cat.  B. 
Brit.  Mus.  XXVI.  p.  553  (1898);  Sharpe, 
Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  115  (1899);  Martens, 
Hamb.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  23  (1900:  Str. 
Magellan);  Oates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus. 
I.  p.  138  (1901). 


FIG.  46. 


Podilymbus  podicipes.  Pro- 
file of  head  and  neck.  Breed- 
ing plumage.  ^  natural  size. 


AVES PODICIPEDID^E. 


8l 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size  (adult  male). — Total  length,  about  14  inches. 
Culmen  (from  feathers  on  forehead),  0.75  to  i  inch. 
Wing,  5.1  to  5.6  inches. 
Tarsus,  1.6  to  1.8  inches. 
Adult  Female:  Total  length,  about  12  inches. 
Culmen  (from  feathers  on  forehead),  0.7  to  0.9  inches. 
Wing,  4.6  to  5  inches. 
Tarsus,  1.35  to  1.6  inches. 

The  adult  males  of  this  species  are  decidedly  larger  than  the  adult 
females. 

Color   (adult   breeding).  —  General  color  above   dark   glossy   brown. 


FIG.  47. 


FIG.  48. 


Podilymbus  podicipes.  Profile  of  head 
and  neck.  Adult  in  winter.  y2  natural 
size. 


Podilymbus  podicipes.  Profile  of  head 
and  neck.  Young  of  the  year.  y2  nat- 
ural size. 


Lower  breast  and  belly  silvery  white  with  some  dusky  mottling.  On  the 
sides  and  flanks  dark  brown  with  rufous  mottling. 

Head :  Crown  dark  brown  inclining  to  blackish.  Sides  of  head  and  face 
below  the  eyes  sandy  ash. 

Neck :  Sandy  ash  below  becoming  dark  brown  like  the  crown  above. 
The  throat  and  extreme  upper  fore  neck  deep  black,  which  extends  as  a 
slight  bar  back  of  base  of  the  lower  mandible  upward  to  the  gape. 

Back :  Dark  glossy  brown  with  some  ashy  washing,  depending  on  the 
freshness  of  the  plumage. 

Wings  :  Much  like  the  back.  The  primary  and  secondary  quills  ashy, 
inclining  to  white  on  their  inner  webs,  and  this  condition  progressing  so 


82  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

that  the  secondaries  have  a  whitish  appearance.  This  varies  in  individuals 
and  does  not  seem  to  be  correlated  with  age  or  season. 

Lower  parts :  Silky  white  with  some  dusky  mottling.  The  flanks  and 
sides  dark  brown  approaching  the  back  in  color  but  more  ashy  and 
mottled  with  rufous  in  a  varying  degree. 

Iris  dark  hazel,  with  a  narrow  outer  rim  of  yellowish  white. 

Bill  pale,  almost  white  with  a  slight  greenish  tint  and  having  a  distinct 
well  defined  black  band  across  both  mandibles. 

Tarsi  and  feet  greenish  slate  color;  the  greenish  shading  is  not  so 
apparent  on  the  inner  surface  of  the  toes  or  tarsi. 

Adult  in  Non-breeding  or  Winter  Plumage.  —  The  appearance  of  this 
grebe  in  this  phase  of  plumage  differs  from  that  described  as  follows :  The 
chin  and  throat  are  white  generally  strongly  suffused  with  rusty.  This 
suffusion  is  very  pronounced  on  the  fore  neck,  sides  and  flanks,  and  is 
noticeable  on  the  upper  parts  generally.  The  belly  is  less  affected  in 
this  way  than  the  other  parts. 

Young  of  the  Year. — Young  birds  of  the  year  resemble  winter  adult 
birds,  but  may  be  readily  recognized  by  dark  brown  longitudinal  markings 
on  the  sides  of  the  face  and  throat.  The  bill  is  as  long  as  in  adults  but 
is  noticeably  more  compressed. 

Young  in  Down. — Young  in  the  downy  phase  are  of  a  general  dusky 
brown  coloring,  striped  longitudinally  with  white.  The  head  and  neck 
are  very  definitely  marked  in  black  and  white  striping.  There  is  a  chest- 
nut area  in  the  middle  of  the  crown,  and  two  chestnut  bands  across  the 
nape.  The  chin,  throat,  breast  and  belly  are  white  and  the  sides  and 
flanks  greyish  brown. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Patagonia,  the  Argentine  Republic,  and  north- 
ward throughout  South  America,  the  West  Indies,  Mexico  and  North 
America  as  far  north  as  Hudson's  Bay  and  the  Great  Slave  Lake.  The 
Bermudas.  Breeding  locally  throughout  its  range,  and  being  migratory 
in  North  America  and  probably  in  South  America,  in  the  regions  where 
ice  is  formed  during  the  colder  portions  of  the  year. 

• 

The  Princeton  University  Expeditions  did  not  observe  or  secure  this 
species  in  Patagonia,  though  it  doubtless  occurs  in  at  least  the  northern 


AVES PODICIPEDID^E. 


portions  of  that  region.  The  description  is  based  on  material  in  the  Uni- 
versity Museum  collected  at  various  points  in  North  America,  and  on  the 
material  cited  below  from  the  Pozzi  collection. 


Cond. 

P.  U.  O.  C. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

Skin. 

M 

It 

8630 
8631 
8632 

Male,  ad. 
Female,  ad. 
Female,  im. 

Prov.  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina. 
Near  Buenos  Aires. 
Prov.  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina. 

July,  1897. 

ft                  ll 
tt                  « 

S.  Pozzi. 
« 

ti 

FIG.  49. 


FIG.  50. 


Podilymbus  podicipes.  8630.  Princeton 
University  Collection.  Profile  of  adult  male. 
Buenos  Ayres.  Natural  size. 


Podilymbus  podicipes. 
ton  University  Collection, 
female.  Buenos  Ayres. 


8631.      Prince- 
Profile  of  adult 
Natural  size. 


It  will  be  noticed  that  all  these  birds  were  taken  in  the  winter.  The  two 
adults  show  traces  of  the  black  throat  patch  and  in  the  male  it  is  clearly 
denned,  though  not  fully  developed.  However,  it  is  clear  that  the  area 
occupied  by  the  black  is  much  more  extensive  than  in  specimens  of  this 
species  from  North  America.  It  extends  much  farther  down  on  the  throat 
and  higher  up  on  the  sides  of  the  face  and  neck.  The  bill  is  much  more 
robust  and  the  birds  are  appreciably  larger  than  any  birds  I  have  seen  from 
North  America. 

The  immature  bird  still  shows  traces  of  the  neck  striping  about  the 
throat.  It  is  a  full  grown  bird  with  no  traces  of  down.  The  under  parts 
are  much  darker  than  in  North  American  representatives,  and  this  is  par- 
ticularly noticeable  on  the  breast  and  belly,  and  on  the  sides  and  flanks. 
Nowhere  is  there  any  clear  silky  white  area,  and  the  general  under  color 
is  dusky  brown,  shaded  with  silky  feathers  of  a  curious  gray  cast,  the 


84 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 


lightest  area  being  about  the  center  of  the  lower  surface  of  the  body, 
rapidly  shading  into  dusky  in  every  direction. 

More  material  may  prove  the  Patagonian  birds  to  be  worthy  of  specific 
rank  and,  as  a  geographical  race  or  subspecies,  it  possesses  much  greater 
claim  than  any  of  those  which  have  been  so  discriminated. 

"Dr.  Hartlaub,  in  describing  Podilymbus  antarcticus  (Podiceps  antarc- 
tictts  Less.)  in  his  article  in  'Naumannia,'  does  not  appear  to  be  aware 

FIG.   51. 


FIG.  52. 


Podilymbus  podicipes.  8632.  Princeton 
University  Collection.  Profile  of  immature 
female.  Buenos  Ayres.  Natural  size. 


Podilymbus  podi- 
cipes. 8630.  Prince- 
ton University  Col- 
lection. Foot  of 
adult  male.  Buenos 
Ayres.  %  natural 
size. 


that  it  is  the  same  as  P.  brevirostris  of  Gray's  'Genera.'  The  error 
appears  to  have  occurred  from  it  not  being  stated  on  the  plate  in  the 
'Genera'  that  the  figure  of  P.  brevirostris  is  reduced  in  size.  The  typi- 
cal specimens  of  P.  bremrostris  were  obtained  in  Chili  by  Mr.  Bridges. 
I  cannot  find  any  difference  between  them  and  specimens  of  a  Podilym- 
bus collected  on  the  lakes  of  Atitlan  in  Guatemala  by  Mr.  Salvin ;  so  that 
it  would  appear  that  this  species  ranges  all  along  the  Andes  into  Central 
America."  (P.  L.  Sclater,  P.  Z.  S.,  1867,  337.) 


AVES SPHENISCID^E.  85 

Order   SPHENISCIFORMES. 

Sharpe,  Classif.  Bds.  p.  71  (1891) ;  id,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  117  (1899). 

Family    SPHENISCID^E. 

Ogilvie-Grant,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVI.  p.  623  (1898);  Sharpe,  Hand- 
List  Bds.  I.  p.  117  (1899).    Mitchell,  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  (2)  Zool.  viii. 
pp.  173-275,  pis.  xxi-xxiii,  text  figures  1-75  (1901). 
Shufeldt,  J.  Anat.  Physiol.  (2)  xv.  pp.  390-404  pi.  xxxviii  (1901). 

Genus   APTENODYTES  Forster. 

Type. 

Aptenodytes,  Forster,  Comment.  Gottingensis,  iii.  p.  133 

(1781);  Hyatt,  Pr.  Bost.   Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  XIV.  p. 

241    (1872);    Ogilvie-Grant,    Cat.   Bds.    Brit.    Mus. 

XXVI.  p.  626  (1898) ;  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p. . 

117(1 899) A.  patagonica. 

Apterodita,  Scop.  Del.  Flor.  et  Fauna  Insubr.  ii.  p.  91 

(1786) A.  patagonica. 

Pingtunaria,  Shaw,  Mus.  Lever,  p.  144  (1792).  .  .  .  A.  patagonica. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Straits  of  Magellan  to  New  Zealand  and  the 
Macquarie  Islands.  Falkland  Islands;  Kerguelen  Island.  Shores  of 
Antarctic  Continent. 


APTENODYTES  PATAGONICA  (Forster). 

Patagonian  Pinguin,'  Penn.  Phil.   Trans.  Iviii.  p.  91   tab.  V  (1768);  id. 
Gen.  B.  p.  55,  tab.   14  (1781);   Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  2  p.  563 

(1785)- 
Le  Manchot,  Sonn.  Nouv.  Guin.  p.  179,  tab.  113  (1776). 

Le  Manchot  des  Isles  Malouines,  D'Aubent.  PI.  Enl.  X.  pi.  975  (1781). 
Le  Grand  Manchot,  Buff.  Hist.  Nat.  Ois.  IX.  p.  399,  tab.  xxx  (1783). 
Aptenodytes  patachonica,  Forst.  Nouv.  Comm.  Gotting.  III.  p.  137,  pi.  2 
(1781);  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  i.  p.  556  (1788);  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  II.  p.  878 


86  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

(1790);  Reid,  P.  Z.  S.  1835,  p.  132  (Falkland  Islands);  Cass.  U.  S. 
Expl.  Exped.  p.  349  (1858);  Fitz.  Bilder- Atlas  Nat.  Vog.  fig.  347 
(1864);  Milne  Edwards  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  (6)  IX.  art.  9  p.  37  (1879- 
1880);  Vincig.  Faun.  Amer.  Austr.  Boll.  Soc.  Geogr.  Ital.  xxi.  p. 
801  (1884). 

Apterodyta  longirostris,  Scop.  Flor.  et  Faun.  Insubr.  II.  p.  91  (1786). 

Aptenodyta  patagonica,  Bonn.  Enc.  Meth.  I.  p.  66,  tab.  xvi,  fig.  3  (1790). 

Pinguinaria  patachonica,  Shaw,  Mus.  Lever,  p.  144  cum  tab  (1792). 

Pinguinaria  patagonica,  Shaw  in  Miller's  Cim.  Phys.  p.  45  (1796). 

Aptenodytes  patagonica,  Miller,  Cim.  Phys.  tab.  XXIII.  (1796);  Stephens 
in  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  XIII.  p.  55,  pi.  7  (1825);  Forst.  Descr.  Anim. 
p.  347  (1844:  Falkland  Isl.);  Reichenb.  Syst.  Av.  Natatores,  pi.  I. 
figs.  3,  4  (1848);  Grant,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVI.  p.  627  (1898); 
Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  117  (1899);  Martens,  Vog.  Hamb.  Magalh. 
Sammelr.  p.  23  (1900);  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX.  p.  633 
(1900:  Penguin  Rookery,  Feb.);  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus. 
I.  p.  143  (1901). 

Patagonian  Pinguin,  Shaw  &  Nodd.  Nat.  Misc.  XI.  tab.  409  (1799). 

Hairy  Pinguin,  Lath.  Gen.  Hist.  B.  X.  p.  392  (1824:  Young);  Yarrell, 
P.  Z.  S.  1833,  p.  33. 

Woolly  Pinguin,  Lath.  Gen.  Hist.  B.  X.  p.  392,  pi.  181  (1824:  Young); 
Yarrell,  P.  Z.  S.  1833,  pp.  33,  65. 

King  Penguin,  Weddell,  Voy.  South  Pole,  p.  55  (1825). 

Aptenodytes  pennantii,  Gray,  Ann.  &  Mag.  N.  H.  xiii.  p.  315  (1844);  id. 
List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  III.  p.  156  (1844:  Falkland  Isl.);  Reichenb.  Syst. 
Av.  Natatores,  pi.  i.  figs,  i,  2  (1848);  Bp.  C.  R.  xlii.  p.  775  (1856); 
Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1859,  p.  98  (Falkland  Isl.);  Scl.  op.  cit.  1860,  p.  390 
(loc.  cit);  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  163  (Falkland  Isl.  not  known  to 
breed);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1865,  p.  318  (Falkland  Isl.);  id.  1868,  p.  527 
(E.Falkl.);  id.  &  Salv.  Ibis,  1869,  p.  284  (Tyssen  Isl.);  Gray  Hand- 
List  B.  III.  p.  99  no.  10808  (1871);  Hyatt,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  N.  H. 
XIV.  p.  247  (1872:  Straits  of  Magellan);  Gray,  Erebus  &  Terror  pi. 
32  (1875);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1879,  p.  763  (Staten  Isl.  Tierra  del  Fuego); 
id.  Ibis,  1888,  pp.  331,  332,  figs,  i  &  3;  de  Winton,  P.  Z.  S.  1899 
pp.  900,  980  (moulting). 

Aptenodytes  rex,  Bp.  C.  R.  xlii.  p.  775  (1856). 

Aptenodytes  forsteri  (nee  Gray),  Scl.  Ibis,  1860,  p.  432  (Falkland  Isl.). 


AVES SPHENISCID/E.  87 

Spheniscus  pennantii,  Schl.  Mus.  Pays-Bas,  vi.  Urinat.  p.  3  (1867:  Falk- 
land Isl.). 

Aptenodytes  longirostris,  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1872,  p.  193  (Falk- 
land Isl.) ;  Sharpe,  Erebus  &  Terror,  App.  p.  37  (1875) ;  Scl.  &  Salv. 
P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  653  (Falkland  Isl.);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1879,  p.  311 
(eggs) ;  id.  &  Salv.  Voy.  Chall.  Birds,  p.  122  (1880:  Falkland  Isl.) ; 
Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  Part  X.  p.  249  (1888:  S. 
Patagonia) ;  Studer,  Forschungsreise  S.  M.  S.,  Gazelle,  III.  p.  104 
(1889);  Steinen,  Internat.  Polarforsch.  Deutschen  Exped.  II.  pp. 
229-237,  273-276,  pis.  7,  8  (1890);  Oust.  Sci.  Miss.  Cap  Horn,  p. 
319  (1891);  Moseley,  Notes  Voy.  Chall.  p.  152  cum  fig.  (1892); 
Hazard,  Auk,  XI.  p.  280,  pi.  viii.  (1894:  notes  on  nesting). 

FIG.  S3- 


Aptenodytes  patagonica.     Profile  head  and  neck.      ^  natural  size. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Total  length  about  36  inches. 

Culmen  (gape  to  tip),  4.7  inches. 

Culmen  (from  nasal  feathers  to  tip),  2.4  inches. 

Wing  (shoulder  to  tip),  12  inches. 

Tail,  3.2  inches. 

Color. — General  color  of  upper  parts  dull  blackish  so  thickly  mottled 
with  small  round  blue  grey  spots  as  to  present  a  bluish  grey  appearance ; 
and  below  white. 

Head :  The  top  of  the  head,  and  cheeks  deep  black  having  a  distinct 
dark  greenish  gloss.  A  large  oval  patch  of  orange-yellow  on  the  sides 
of  the  head,  back  of  the  ears. 

Neck:  Sides  of  the  neck  uniform  blue  grey.     Above  and  continuous 


88  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

% 

with  the  black  of  the  crown  and  terminating  in  a  point,  there  is  a  black 
area  on  the  nape,  glossed  with  dark  green.  This  color  also  extends  on 
the  chin  and  throat.  The  yellow  which  forms  the  two  oval  areas  back  of 
the  ears,  is  separated  above  by  the  black  crown.  Thence  as  two  narrow 
yellow  lines  this  color  reaches  down  the  sides  of  the  neck  and  unites  on 

FIG.  54. 


Aptenodytes  patagonica.     Head  from  above.      ]/$  natural  size. 

the  lower  throat  where  it  joins  the  orange  yellow  patch  on  the  breast.  The 
yellow  is  everywhere  separated  from  the  blue  grey  of  the  back  and  sides 
of  the  neck  by  a  narrow  black  line,  which  widens  on  the  sides  of  the  breast 
and  terminates  at  the  flippers. 

Back :  Blackish.  Thickly  mottled  with  small  round  blue  grey  spots  so 
that  the  general  effect  is  bluish  grey.  This  color  becomes  bluer  grey  on 
the  region  of  the  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts. 

Tail :  Of  twenty  feathers,  which  are  scarcely  longer  than  the  longest 
upper  tail-coverts. 

Flippers  :  Colored  above  like  the  back,  but  below  rather  greyer  white 
with  a  large  terminal  spot  or  area  of  dusky  black. 

Lower  parts :  Silky  white  with  an  orange  area  just  below  the  termina- 
tion of  the  black  of  the  throat,  formed  by  the  confluence  of  the  two  orange 
yellow  lines  and  shading  off  into  the  silky  white  of  the  lower  breast. 

Bill  :  Interramal  space  entirely  feathered.  Upper  mandible  black. 
Lower  mandible  black  at  the  tip  becoming  flesh  color  at  the  base. 

Eyes  :  Hazel  brown. 

Tarsi  and  feet :  Black,  the  former  feathered  but  not  so  as  to  conceal  the 
base  of  the  outer  toe. 

Immature  birds  have  the  yellow  decorations  of  the  sides  of  the  head 
and  throat  whitish  with  a  faint  yellow  tinge.  Otherwise  they  are  similar 
to  adults. 

Young  attaining  first  plumage  from  down.  Head  and  neck  of  uniform 
brown  down  overcast  with  grey  giving  a  smoky  effect.  Flippers  blue 
grey  showing  remnants  of  long  brown  or  dusky  down.  This  condition 


AVES SPHENISCID/E.  89 

also  prevails  on  the  back  and  shoulders.  Breast  and  chest  dirty  white 
with  a  strong  yellow  tinge  and  with  much  long  dusky  hair-like  down. 
Rest  of  lower  parts  much  as  in  adults.  These  birds  are  almost  full 
grown. 

Downy  birds  and  nestlings  are  entirely  clothed  in  dull  dusky  brown 
down. 


Geographical  Range.  — Straits  of  Magellan  and  Cape  Horn.  Falkland, 
South  Georgia,  Marion,  Kerguelen,  Macquarie,  Suaves  and  Stewart 
Islands. 


The  Patagonian  Penguin  was  not  obtained  by  the  naturalists  of  the 
Princeton  Expeditions  to  Patagonia.  The  material  used  in  these  descrip- 
tions is  in  the  Museum  of  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Sciences,  in  the 
British  Museum  of  Natural  History  and  in  the  Museum  of  the  Jardin  des 
Plantes. 

In  the  Natural  History  of  Kerguelen  Island  Dr.  Kidder  writes  of  this 
species,  "No  eggs  or  young  in  the  collection.  It  is  of  this  genus  that 
the  statement  is  made  that  the  eggs  are  incubated  in  a  sort  of  pouch, 
formed  by  a  fold  of  skin  and  situated  between  the  tibiae.  The  whalers 
met  at. Kerguelen  Island  confirm  this  statement;  but  no  opportunity  for 
direct  personal  observation  was  found  during  the  stay  of  the  transit-party. 
The  male  and  female  are  said  to  alternate  in  carrying  the  egg  around. 
Nat.  Hist.  Ker.  Is.  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  No.  3.  p.  18  (1876). 

"In  'Bulletin  No.  2'  of  the  United  States  National  Museum  (p.  41), 
Dr.  J.  H.  Kidder  mentions  a  curious  habit  of  the  King  Penguin  (Apteno- 
dytes  longirostris]  upon  the  authority  of  Captain  Joseph  J.  Fuller,  of  the 
schooner  '  Roswell  King,'  informs  me  .  .  .  that  they  (the  King  Penguins) 
build  no  nests  whatever,  carrying  the  egg  about  in  a  pouch  between  the 
legs,  and  only  laying  it  down  for  the  purpose  of  changing  it  from  male  to 
female.  This  'Bulletin  No.  2'  was  printed  in  1875.  In  1891  I  had  the 
good  fortune  to  meet  this  same  Captain  Joseph  J.  Fuller,  then  about  to  sail 
for  the  Antarctic  as  Master  of  the  sealing  schooner  '  Francis  Allyn.'  After 
some  experimenting  with  cameras  to  find  one  best  suited  to  the  bad  con- 
ditions of  the  Antarctic,  we  found  a  camera  combining  the  essential  virtues 
and  agreed  that  one  principal  point  to  settle  should  be  this  one  as  to  the 


0,0  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

egg-carrying  habits  of  the  Penguins.  If  possible  a  King  Penguin  was  to 
be  photographed  so  as  to  show  the  egg  in  position  in  the  sac.  Captain 
Fuller  told  me  he  felt  sure  he  could  manage  the  camera,  which  was  fitted 
with  a  roll  holder  and  films,  but  greatly  feared  the  dark  and  foggy  weather 
prevailing  would  hinder  the  best  results. 

"  About  ten  months  later  I  received  four  rows  of  films  by  schooner  from 
St.  Helena,  where  the  '  Francis  Allyn  '  had  transhipped  her  catch  of  skins. 
They  were  Eastman  films  and  many  were  excellent,  especially  such  as 
had  been  exposed  in  sunlight  at  Cape  Town,  St.  Helena,  and  Tristan 
d'Acunha.  But  the  special  efforts  to  photograph  seals,  sea  elephants, 
Penguins  of  all  degrees,  Skuas  (Buphagus  skua  antarcticus],  Johnny 
Rooks  (Senex  australis],  Sheath-bills  (Chionis  minor],  and  many  another 
strange  and  interesting  denizen  of  that  comfortless  Antarctic  region  were 
all  failures,  in  part  at  least.  The  weather  was  no  doubt  largely  respon- 
sible for  this,  and  in  many  cases  there  was  barely  light  enough  to  show  a 
horizon  line.  The  large  percentage  of  failures  was  relieved  by  the  fact 
that  some  of  the  best  and  most  decipherable  among  them  bore  precisely 
upon  the  point  stated  by  Dr.  Kidder  upon  the  authority  of  Captain  Fuller. 
The  photograph  from  which  Mr.  E.  Whitney  Blake  has  kindly  made  a 
careful  scale  drawing  now  reproduced,  was  one  of  the  best  of  three,  all 
meant  to  show  the  egg  in  the  pouch.  All  three  were  taken  on  Kerguel- 
en's  Island,  during  January,  1894,  at  which  time  the  whole  'rookery'  of 
Penguins  was  incubating.  While  the  sailors  caught  the  birds,  then  not  a 
hard  task,  Captain  Fuller  photographed  them,  and  while  very  bad  photo- 
graphically, it  is  possible  to  decipher  at  least  one  of  them,  as  I  think  the 
drawing  proves.  A  careful  inspection  of  the  original  shows  the  larger 
end  of  the  egg,  which  barely  projects  from  the  external  sac,  which  holds 
it  firmly  between  the  thighs  of  the  bird,  a  king  Penguin.  The  bird  re- 
clines in  its  position  in  the  sailor's  arms,  while  his  finger  holds  the  egg 
securely,  to  prevent  the  bird  dropping  it.  The  soles  of  the  Penguin's  feet, 
if  one  may  so  speak,  are  turned  up  toward  the  camera,  and  are  clearly 
defined  against  the  breast.  Mr.  Blake's  drawing  shows  this  all  and  more." 
(R.  G.  Hazard,  Auk,  1894,  pp.  280-281.) 


AVES SPHENISCID^E.  91 

Genus  PYGOSCELIS  Wagler. 

Type. 

Pygoscelis,  Wagler,  Isis,  1832,  p.  281  ;  Hyatt,  Pro.  Bost.  Soc. 

Nat.  Hist.  XIV.  p.  242  (1872);  Ogilvie-Grant,  Cat  Bds. 

Brit.  Mus.  XXVI.  p.  630  (1898);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds. 

I.  p.  118  (1899) P.  papua. 

Dasyrkamphiis,  Hombron  &  Jacquinot,  Voy.  Pole.  Sud,  Zool. 

iii.  p.  154  (1853) P.  adeliee. 

Pygoscelys,  Bonap.  C.  R.  xlii.  p.  775  (1856) P.  papua. 

Geographical  Range. — Straits  of  Magellan,  south  to  the  shores  of  the 
Antarctic  Continent,  Falkland  Islands,  Kerguelen  Island,  New  Zealand 
Seas  and  Macquarie  Islands. 

:'   *  " 

PYGOSCELIS  PAPUA  (Forster). 

Le  Manchot  papou,  Sonn.  Voy.  Nouv.  Guin.  p.  181  pi.  CXV  (1776). 
Aptenodytes  papua,  Forst.  Nov.  Comm.  Getting.  III.  p.  140  pi.  iii.  (1781); 

Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  i.  p.  556  (1788:    Falkland  Isl);    Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  II. 

p.  879  (1790);   Vieill.  Gal.  Ois.  II.  p.  246,  pi.  ccxcix  (1834);    Forst. 

Descr.  Anim.  p.  352  (1844). 

Papuan  Pinguin,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  2  p.  565  (1785). 
Apterodita  papua,  Scop.  Del.  Flor.  et  Faun.  Insubr.  II.  p.  91  (1786). 
Aptenodyta  papua,  Bonn.  Enc.  Meth.  I.  p.  67  pi.  17  fig.  3  (1790). 
Chrysocoma papua,  Stephens  in  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  xiii.  p.  59  (1825). 
Pygoscelis  papua,  Gray,  List  B.  iii.  p.  153  (1844:  Falkland  Isl.) ;  Reichenb. 

Syst.  Av.  Natatores,  pi.  ii.  Suppl.  i  fig.  738  (1848) ;  Hyatt,  Proc.  Bost. 

Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  XIV.  p.  249  (1872):  Milne  Edwards,  Ann.  Sci.  Nat. 

(6)  IX.  Art.  IX.  p.  59  (1880);  Steinen,  Internat.  Polarforsch.  Deut- 

schen  Exped.  II.  pp.  221-229,  pis.  9,  10  (1890:  S.  Georgia) ;  Donald, 

Proc.  Roy.  Soc.  Edinb.  XX.  p.  175  (1894) ;  Grant,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus. 

xxvi,  p.  631   (1898);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  118  (1899);  Gates 

Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  143  (1901). 
Eudyptes  papua,  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  641    (1846);  Cass.  U.  S.  Expl. 

Exped.  p.  350  (1858);  Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1859,  p.  98  (Falkland  Isl.); 

Abbott,  Ibis,  1860,  p.  336  (Falkland  Isl.  breeding);  Gray.  Handl.  B. 

III.  p.  98,  no.  10796  (1871). 


92 


PATAGONIAN     EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 


Aptenodytes  tceniata,  Peale,  U.  S.  Expl.  Exped.  p.  264  (1848). 
Pygoscelis  wagleri,  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  390  (Falkland  Isl.),  id.  P.  Z.  S. 

1 86 1,  p.  47;  id.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  527. 
Sphen iscus papua,  Schl.  Mus.  Pays  Bas,  VI.  Urinat.  p.  5  (1867:  Falkland 

Isl.). 
Pygoscelis  paptiensis,  Van  der  Hoeven,  teste  Gray  Hand-List  B.  III.  p. 

98  (1871). 

Pygoscelis  tceniatus,  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1872,  p.  195. 
Pygosceles  tceniatus,  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  151  (1873);  iid. 

P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  653;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1879,  p.  311 ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  Voy. 

Chall.  II.  Birds,  p.  124  (1881  :  Falkland  Isl.). 
Pygoscelis  tceniata,  Oust.  Sci.  Miss.  Cap  Horn,  p.  B.  321  (1891):   Mose- 

ley,  Notes  Voy.  Chall.  p.  151  (1892);  Donald,  Proc.  Roy.  Phys.  Soc. 

Edinb.  XII.  p.  334  (1894).     Valient,  Journ.  Inst.  Cornwall,  XIV. 

p.  352  (1901  :  Falklands). 

FIG.   55. 


Pygoscelis  papua.    Profile.      %  natural  size. 


Pygoscelis  papua.     Head  from  above, 
natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size  (adult). — Total  length,  about  30  inches. 

Oilmen  (gape  to  tip),  3.65  inches. 

Culmen  (from  nasal  feathers  to  tip),  1.8  inches. 

Wing  (shoulder  to  tip),  9  inches. 

Tail,  6  inches. 


AVES SPHENISCID^E.  93 

Color  (adult). — General  color  of  upper  parts  greyish  slate;  lower  parts 
white. 

Head :  Brownish  black,  with  a  conspicuous  broad  white  band  curving 
backward  across  the  crown  from  the  region  between  the  eyes.  In  many 
individuals  there  are  numbers  of  scattered  white  plumes  about  the  head. 

Neck :  Brownish  black  like  the  head  and  characterized  in  most  individ- 
uals by  similar  scattered  white  plumes. 

Back :  Slate  grey,  each  feather  having  a  dark  base  and  a  bluish-grey  tip. 

Tail  of  1 6  feathers  in  adults,  colored  like  the  back. 

Wings  (Flippers):  Greyish  brown  externally,  edged  on  both  sides  with 
white. 

Inner  surface  white  with  a  dusky  or  black  patch  at  the  extremity. 

Under  parts :  Chest,  breast  and  rest  of  under  parts  pure  white. 

Worn  adult  birds  present  a  mottled  brown  and  black  appearance  due 
to  the  blue  grey  ends  of  the  feathers  being  abraded  or  worn  off. 

"Iris  rich  brown,  pupil  lozenge-shaped  when  contracted;  lower  man- 
dible and  lower  margin  of  upper  mandible  brilliant  orange,  upper  portion 
and  tip  of  upper  mandible  black ;  tarsus  and  feet  orange  colored,  claws 
black."  (Kidder.) 

Immature  birds  differ  from  the  adults  in  having  noticeably  smaller  bills 
and  in  having  the  chin  and  throat  white  mottled  with  dusky  or  greyish 
black. 

In  young  birds  there  are  eighteen  tail  feathers  the  outer  one  on  each  side 
being  white  and  being  moulted  and  not  replaced  when  the  adult  plumage 
is  assumed. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Falkland  Islands,  South  Georgia,  Marion  Island, 
Kerguelen  Islands,  Heard  Island,  Macquarie  Islands,  Paulet  Island  and 
Dundee  Island. 


The  Princeton  Expeditions  did  not  explore  the  Falkland  Islands  and 
the  Gentoo  Penguin  is  not  included  in  the  species  in  the  collections 
made.  The  descriptions  are  based  on  material  in  British  Museum  of 
Natural  History. 

Of  the  breeding  of  Pygoscelis  papua  as  observed  by  him  at  Kerguelen 
Island  Dr.  Kidder  writes:  "Had  already  begun  to  lay  September  loth, 


94  PATAGONIAN     EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

selecting  the  top  of  a  mound  of  Azorella  (a  densely  growing  plant  on  the 
island)  and  scratching  therein  a  shallow  cavity.  But  one  egg  was  found  at 
any  time  in  a  nest ;  yet  we  have  good  reason  for  believing  that  these  pen- 
guins rear  two  young  in  a  season,  laying  a  second  egg  about  two  months 
after  the  first,  and  before  the  young  bird  has  left  the  nest.  The  eggs  are 
obtusely  ellipsoid,  some  specimens  being  almost  spherical ;  white  with  a 
very  pale  greenish  tint."  (Kidder,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  3,  p.  18,  (1876).) 


PYGOSCELIS  ANTARCTICA  (Forster). 

Aptenodytes  antarctica,  Forst.  Nov.  Comm.  Getting.  III.  p.  141,  pi.  IV. 

(1781);  Miller,  Cim.  Phys.  pi.  XL  (1796);  Forst.   Descr.  Anim.  p. 

56  (1844). 

Antarctic  Pinguin,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  2,  p.  565  (1785). 
Aptenodytes  antarcticus,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  557  (1788). 
Aptenodyta  antarctica,  Bonn.  Enc.  Meth.  I.  p.  69,  pi.  17  fig.  4  (1790). 
Pinguinaria  antarctica,  Shaw  in  Miller,  Cim.  Phys.  p.  78  (1796). 
Spheniscus  antarcticiis,  Stephens  in  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  XIII.  p.  67  (1825) ; 

Reichenb.  Syst.  Av.  Natatores  pi.  II  fig.  737  (1848);    Schl.  Mus. 

Pays-Bas,  VI.  Urinat.  p.  5  (1867  :  Falkland  Isl.). 
Pygoscelis  antarctica,  Gray,  List  B.  pt.  III.  p.  154  (1844) ;  Bp.  C.  R.  xlii. 

P-   775  (l856)  ;    Hyatt,   Proc.   Bost.   Soc.   Nat.    Hist.   XIV.   p.   250 

(1871);  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.   Philad.    1872,  p.  199;  Milne  Edwards, 

Ann.   Sci.   Nat.   (6)  IX.  Art.  IX.  p.  59  (1880);   Steinen,  Internat. 

Polarforsch.  Deutschen.  Exped.  II.  pp.  237,  276  (1890:   S.  Georgia); 

Oust.  Sci.  Miss.  Cap  Horn  p.  B.  322   (1891);  Donald,  Proc.  Roy. 

Soc.  Edinb.  XX.  p.  174  (1894);  id.  Proc.  Roy.   Phys.  Soc.  XII,  p. 

334  (1894) ;  Grant,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVI,  p.  634  (1898) ;  Sharpe, 

Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  118  (1899). 
Eudyptes  antarctica,  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  641  (1846);  Reichenb.  Syst.  Av. 

Natatores,  pi.  cclxiv.  fig.  2221  (1848);  Gray,  Hand-List  B.  III.  p.  99, 

no.  10798  (1871);  Sci.  Ibis,  1894,  p.  500. 
Eudyptes  antarcticus  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  164;  Sci.  P.  Z.  S.  1861,  p.  47 

(Falkland  Isl.,  accidental   visitor);    Burm.  An.    Mus.    Nac.   Buenos 

Aires,  III.     Part  X.  p.  250  (1888;  Falkland  Isl.). 


AVES SPHENISCIDyG. 


95 


FIG.  57. 


FIG.  58. 


Pygoscelis  antarctica.     Profile  head  and 
neck,  natural  size. 


Pygoscelis  antarctica.     Head  from  above, 
natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size  (adult). — Total  length,  about  30  inches.  Culmen  (gape  to  tip), 
2.65  inches.  Culmen  (from  nasal  feathers  to  tip),  1.4  inches.  Wing 
(from  shoulder  to  tip),  7.5  inches. 

Color  (adult). — Upper  parts  much  as  in  P.  papua  but  brighter,  the  tips 
of  the  feathers  being  of  a  lighter  tint. 

Lower  parts  generally  white. 

Head  :  Top  of  the  head  of  the  same  bluish  grey  prevailing  on  the  upper 
parts,  this  color  reaching  to  the  nasal  feathering,  interrupted  by  white 
lores  and  a  white  band  over  each  eye. 

Neck :  Above  like  the  back ;  below  and  on  the  sides  white,  broken  by 
a  narrow  black  line  crossing  the  throat  in  a  semi-circle  from  ear  to  ear. 

Back:  Bluish-grey;  each  feather  with  a  dark  base  and  a  bluish  grey 
tip. 

Wing:  (Flipper).  Outer  surface  bluish  grey  like  the  back;  edged 
posteriorly  with  white.  Inner  surface  white,  with  a  blackish  outer  margin 
and  a  blackish  terminal  spot. 

Tail :  Colored  like  back  and  composed  of  twelve  feathers. 

Under  parts :  White. 

In  worn  plumage  the  adult  bird  becomes  brownish  black  above  by  the 
wearing  off  of  the  blue-grey  margins  to  the  feathers. 

Young  birds  have  their  tail  composed  of  fourteen  feathers.  The  outer 
one  on  each  side  is  shed  at  the  first  moult  and  not  replaced. 


96  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Falkland  Islands,  Weddell  Island,  and  South 
Georgia. 

The  Princeton  Expeditions  did  not  collect  representatives  of  the  Ant- 
arctic penguin.  The  description  is  based  on  material  in  the  British 
Museum  of  Natural  History. 


Genus  CATARRHACTES  Brisson. 

Type. 

Catarractes,  Briss.  (nee  Moehring,  1752)  Orn.  VI.  p.  102 

(1760) C.  chrysocome. 

Eudyptes,  Vieill.  Analyse,  pp.  67,  70,  (1816);  Hyatt, 

Pro.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  XIV.  p.  244  (1872)  .  .  C.  chrysocome. 
Chrysocoma,  Steph.  in  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  XIII.  pt.  i.  p. 

57  (1825). .  .  .  C.  chrysoconie. 

Microdyptes,  M.-Edwards,  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  (6)  IX.  art.  9, 

p.  58  (1880);  Reichenow  &  Schalow,  J.  f.  O.  1882, 

p.  1 1 2 C.  chrysocome. 

Catarrkactes,  Ogilvie-Grant,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVI. 

p.  635  (1898);   Sharpe,   Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.   118 

(1899).  =  Catarractes. 

Geographical  Range. — Tierra  del  Fuego,  the  Falkland  Islands  to  the 
New  Zealand  Archipelago. 


CATARRHACTES  CHRYSOCOME  (Forster). 

The  Penguin,  Edwards,  Nat.  Hist.  B.  i.  p.  49,  pi.  49  (1748)  young. 

Phaethon  demersus,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  i.  p.  135  (1758)  ex  Edwards. 

Le  Gorfou,  Briss.  Orn.  VI.  p.  102  (1760). 

Phaeton  demersus,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  i.  p.  219  (1766). 

The   Red-footed    Pinguin,   Pennant,    Phil.   Trans.  LVIII.  p.  98  (1768); 

Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  2,  p.  572  (1785). 
Le  Manchot  sauteur,  Bougainville,  Voy.  Antom  du  Monde  p.  69  (1771); 

Buff.  Hist.  Nat.  Ois.  X.  p.  224  (1783). 
Le  Manchot  hupe  de  Siberie,  D'Aubent.  PI.  Enl.  X.  pi.  984  (1781). 


AVES SPHENISCID^E.  97 

Aptenodytes  chrysocome,  Forst.  Nov.  Comment.  Getting.  III.  p.  135,  pi. 

i  (1781  :  Falkland  Isl.) ;  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  i.  p.  555  (1788);  Lath.  Ind. 

Orn.  II.  p.  878  (1790);  Forst.  Descr.  Anim.  p.  99  (1844);  Peak,  U. 

S.  Expl.  Exped.  p.  259  (1848);  Abbott,  Ibis,  1860,  p.  337  (Falkland 

Isl.). 
Aptenodytes  catarmctes,  Forst.  Nov.  Comment.  Getting.  III.  p.  145  (1781); 

Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  i.  p.  558  (1788);  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  II.  p.  881  (1790). 
Crested  Pinguin,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  2,  p.  561  (1785:  Falkland  Isl.) 

ex  D'Aubent. 

Aptenodyta  gorfua,  Bonn.  Enc.  Meth.  I.  p.  68  (1790). 
Aptenodyta  chrysocome,  Bonn.  torn.  cit.  p.  68,  pi.  17.  fig.  2,  pi.  18.  fig.  4 

(1790). 

Pingtiinaria  cirrhata,  Shaw  in  Miller's  Cim.  Phys.  p.  92  (1796). 
Aptenodytes  cristata,  Mill.  Cim.  Phys.  pi.  xlix  (1796). 
Pinguinaria  cristata,  Shaw  &  Nodd.  Nat.  Misc.  XI.  pi.  ccccxxxvii  (1800). 
Chrysocoma  saltator,  Stephens  in  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  xiii.  p.  58  (1825). 
Hopping  Gorfou,  Stephens,  torn.  cit.  pi.  viii. 
Chrysocoma  catarractes,  Stephens,  torn.  cit.  p.  61. 
Stonecr acker  Penguin,  Weddell,  Voy.  South  Pole,  p.  57  (1825). 
Catarrliactes  chrysocome,  Vieill.  Gal.  des  Ois.  II.  p.  245,  tab.  298  (1825); 

Grant,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVI.  p.  635  (1898);  Sharpe,  Hand-List 

B.  I.  p.  1 1 8  (1899)  J  Oates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  144  (1901). 
Catarhactes  chrysocome,  Brandt.  Bull.  Acad.  St.  Petersb.  II.  p.  315  (1837). 
Eudyptes  demersus,  Gray,  List  B.  iii.  p.  155  (1844:  Falkland  Isl.  nee. 

spec.  d.  &  g). 
Eiidyptes  chrysocome,  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  641  (1846) ;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1860, 

p.  390  (Falkland  Isl.) ;  Gould,  t.  c.  p.  418;  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  164; 

Pelz.  Reis.  Novara,  p.   140,  pi.  V  (1865:  St  Paul  Isl.);  Cunn.  Nat. 

Hist.  Str.  Magell.  p.  292  (1871:  Falkland  Isl.);  Hyatt,  Proc.  Bost. 

Soc.  N.  H.  xiv.  p.  251   (1872);  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1872,  p. 

202  (part);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  151  (1873);  iid.  P. 

Z.  S.  1878,  p.  654  (Falkland  Isl.);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.   1879,  p.  311   (loc. 

cit:  eggs) ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  Voy.  Chall.  II.  Birds,  p.  128,  pi.  xxx  (1881) ; 

Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nat.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  pt.  X.  p.  250  (1888:  Straits 

of  Magellan:  E.  Patagonia:  Falkland  Isl.);  id.  pt.  XI.  p.  321  (1890: 

Chupat  Valley).     Hall,  Ibis,  1900,  p.  32  :  Bartram,  Zeitschr.  Naturw. 

74,  pp.  172,  236  pis.  3  and  4  [Anatomy]  (1901);  Sharpe,  Bull.  Brit. 


98  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Orn.  Club.  xii.  p.  67  (1902:   Falklands);  Wohlaur,  Zeitschr.  Morph. 

iv.  pp.  149-178,  pis.  4  and  5  (1902);  Mannich,  Jena  Zeitschr.  xxxvii. 

pp.  1-40,  pi.  i.  (1902);  Lewin,  t.  c.  pp.  40-82  pis.  2  and  3. 
Catarractes  chrysocome,  Reichenb.  Syst.  Av.  Natatores,  pi.  iAfig.  I4b(i848). 
Catarractes  chrysolopha  (nee  Brandt),  Reichenb.  /.  c.  pi.  IA  figs.  I2b  i3b 

and  14. 
Eridyptes  chrysocoma,  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1861,  p.  47  (Falkland  Isl.);   Milne 

Edwards,  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  (6)  IX  art.  9  p.  46,  pi.  ii  (1880). 
Eudyptes  nigrivestis,  Gould,    P.    Z.  S.    1860,  p.  418  (Falkland  Isl.)  id. 

Ann.  &  Mag.  N.  H.   (3)  vii.  p.  218  (1861);    Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1861,  p. 

46;   Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  163;   Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  527;   Cunn. 

Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.  p.  292  (1871  :  Falkland  Isl.). 
Spheniscus  chrysocome,   Schl.   Mus.   Pays-Bas,  VI.   Urinat.   p.  6  (1867: 

Falkland  Isl.). 

Spheniscus  chrysolophus  (nee  Brandt)  Schl.  torn.  cit.  p.  7  (Falkland  Isl.). 
Spheniscus  Catarractes,  Schl.  torn.  cit.  p.  8. 

Eudyptes  Catarractes,  Gray,  Hand-List  B.  III.  p.  98  no.  10791  (1871). 
Eudyptes  nigriventris  (err.),  Gray,  Hand-List  B.  III.  p.  98  no.  10794  (1871) 

Falkland  Isl. 
Eudyptes  chrysolopha  (nee  Brandt),  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1872,  p. 

204. 

Eudyptes  catarrhactes,  Coues,  torn.  cit.  p.  201. 
Eudyptes  filholi,    Hutton,  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  N.  S.  W.  III.  p.  334  (1878: 

Campbell  Isl.). 
Eudyptula  serresiana,  Oust.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  (6)  VIII.  art.  4,  (1878:  Port 

Churruca,  Tierra  del  Fuego). 
Eudyptes  saltator,  Sharpe,  Phil.  Trans,  (extra  vol.)   168,  p.  160,  pi.  VIII. 

fig.  i  (1879:  Kerguelen);    Moseley,  Notes  Voy.  Chall.  pp.  100,  102, 

103,  108,  109,  no,  114,  170  cum  fig.  (1892). 
Microdyptes  serresiana,  Milne  Edwards,  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  (6)  IX.  art.  9,  p. 

58,  pi.  20  (1880):  Oust.   Miss.  Sci.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  242,  334 

(1891). 
Eudyptes  chrysocoma  Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  238,  334 

(1891). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size  (adult). — Total  length,  about  25  inches. 


AVES SPHENISCID^E. 


99 


Oilmen,  gape  to  tip,  1.9  to  2.35  inches. 

Nasal  feathers  to  tip,  1.15  to  1.55  inches. 

Wing  (shoulder  to  tip),  6.6  to  7.0  inches. 

Tail,  3.4  to  4.4  inches. 

Apparently  the  Falkland  Island  examples  of  C.  chrysocome  represent 
the  average  minimum  and  those  from  the  New  Zealand  group  the  average 
maximum  variation  in  size. 

Color  (adult). — The  general  color  above  is  dark  slate;  and  below  pure 
white. 

Head :  The  top  of  the  head  is  black,  the  feathers  of  the  crown  and 
occiput  forming  a  long  crest,  the  longest  feathers  measuring  over  three 


FIG.  59. 


FIG.  60. 


Catarrliactes  chrysocome.     Profile, 
natural  size. 


Catarrliactes  chrysocome.     Head  from 
above.  natural  size. 


inches.  A  golden  yellow  stripe  begins  behind  the  nasal  feathers  and 
extends  backward  above  the  eye,  along  the  sides  of  the  crown.  The 
feathers  of  the  posterior  portion  of  this  stripe  are  lengthened  like  those  of 
the  crown  and  occiput  with  which  they  mingle.  The  longest  of  these 
feathers  measure  quite  three  and  a  half  (3.5)  inches.  Sides  of  the  head 
and  face  smoky  black. 

Neck :  Dark  slate  above,  and  white  below,  except  the  throat  and  chin 
which  are  deep  smoky  black  like  the  sides  of  face  and  head. 

Back :  Dark  slate  ;  the  feathers  are  pointed  in  shape,  black  or  dusky  in 
color,  and  edged  externally  with  dark  bluish  slate  color. 


IOO  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Wing  (Flipper) :  Upper  surface  colored  like  the  back,  and  edged  pos- 
teriorly with  white.  Lower  surface  white,  with  the  anterior  margin,  the 
tip  and  an  area  on  the  basal  portion  of  the  posterior  margin  dusky  or 
black. 

Tail:  Like  the  back  in  color  and  composed  of  sixteen  (16)  feathers. 

"Iris  deep  pink;  bill  orange;  tarsus  and  toes  white."     (Kidder.) 

"  Immature  birds  differ  in  having  the  chin  ashy  white  and  the  throat 
blackish.  In  still  younger  examples  the  throat  is  ashy  white,  and  the 
yellow  superciliary  crest  merely  indicated  by  a  yellowish-white  line. 
(Mus.  Rothschild)."  (W.  R.  Ogilvie-Grant,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVI. 
p.  637,  1898.) 

Geographical  Range. — Tierra  del  Fuego  and  the  Falkland  Islands; 
the  Cape  Seas,  and  Kerguelen  Island ;  Tasmania  and  South  Australia  and 
the  New  Zealand  Group. 

The  Crested  Penguin  was  not  obtained  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to 
Patagonia.  The  description  is  based  on  material  in  the  British  Museum 
of  Natural  History. 

At  Inaccessible  Island,  Dr.  Mosely  had  an  opportunity  to  study  this 
penguin  and  his  account  with  some  slight  omissions  is  as  follows:  "After 
breakfast,  I  landed,  with  one  of  the  Germans  as  guide,  with  a  large 
party.  (October  16,  1873.)  As  we  approached  the  shore,  I  was  aston- 
ished at  seeing  a  shoal  of  what  looked  liked  extremely  active  very  small 
porpoises  or  dolphins.  I  could  not  imagine  what  the  things  could  be, 
unless  they  were  indeed  some  most  marvellously  small  cetaceans ;  they 
showed  black  above  and  white  beneath,  and  came  along  in  a  shoal  of  fifty 
or  more,  from  seaward  toward  the  shore  at  a  rapid  pace,  by  a  series  of 
successive  leaps  out  of  the  water,  and  splashed  into  it  again,  describing 
short  curves  in  the  air,  taking  headers  out  of  the  water  and  headers  into 
it  again;  splash,  splash,  went  this  marvellous  shoal  of  animals,  till  they 
went  splash  through  the  surf  on  to  the  black  stony  beach,  and  there 
struggled  and  jumped  up  amongst  the  boulders  and  revealed  themselves 
as  wet  and  dripping  penguins,  for  such  they  were. 

"Much  as  I  had  read  about  the  habits  of  penguins,  I  never  could  have 
believed  that  the  creatures  I  saw  thus  progressing  through  the  water,  were 


AVES SPHENISCID^E.  IOI 

birds,  unless  I  had  seen  them  to  my  astonishment  thus  make  on  shore. 
I  had  subsequently  much  opportunity  of  watching  their  habits. 

"We  landed  on  the  beach;  it  was  bounded  along  its  whole  stretch  at 
this  point  by  a  dense  growth  of  tussock.  The  tussock  (Spartina  arzindi- 
nacea],  is  a  stout  coarse  reed-like  grass;  it  grows  in  large  clumps,  which 
have  at  their  base  large  masses  of  hard  woody  matter,  formed  of  the  bases 
of  old  stems  and  roots. 

"In  penguin  rookeries,  the  grass  covers  wide  tracts  with  a  dense 
growth,  like  that  of  a  field  of  standing  corn,  but  denser  and  higher,  the 
grass  reaching  high  over  one's  head. 

"On  the  beach  were  to  be  seen  various  groups  of  penguins,  either 
coming  from  or  going  to  the  sea.  There  is  only  one  species  of  penguin 
in  the  Tristan  group:  this  is,  Eiidyptes  saltator,  or  the  'well  diving 
jumper.'  The  birds  stand  about  a  foot  and  a  half  high ;  they  are  covered, 
as  are  all  penguins,  with  a  thick  coating  of  close  set  feathers,  like  the 
grebe's  feathers,  that  muffs  are  made  of.  They  are  slate  grey  on  the  back 
and  head,  snow  white  on  the  whole  front,  and  from  the  sides  of  the  head 
projects  backwards  on  each  side  a  tuft  of  sulphur  yellow  plumes.  The 
tufts  lie  close  to  the  head  when  the  bird  is  swimming  or  diving,  but  they 
are  erected  when  it  is  on  shore,  and  seem  then  almost  by  their  varied 
posture,  to  be  used  in  the  expression  of  emotions,  such  as  inquisitiveness 
and  anger. 

"The  bill  of  the  penguin  is  bright  red,  and  very  strong  and  sharp  at 
the  point,  as  our  legs  testified  before  the  day  was  over ;  the  iris  is  also  red. 
The  penguin's  iris  is  remarkably  sensitive  to  light.  When  one  of  the  birds 
was  standing  in  our  'work  room'  on  board  the  ship  with  one  side  of  its 
head  turned  towards  the  port,  and  the  other  away  from  the  light,  the 
pupil  on  the  one  side  was  contracted  almost  to  a  speck,  whilst  widely  di- 
lated on  the  other.  .  .  .  The  birds  are  subject  to  great  variations  in  the 
amount  of  light  they  use  for  vision,  since  they  feed  at  sea  at  night  as  well 
as  in  the  day  time. 

"Most  of  the  droves  of  penguins  made  for  one  landing-place,  where  the 
beach  surface  was  covered  with  a  coating  of  dirt  from  their  feet,  forming 
a  broad  tract,  leading  to  a  lane  in  the  tall  grass  about  a  yard  wide  at  the 
bottom,  and  quite  bare,  with  a  smoothly  beaten  black  roadway ;  this  was 
the  entrance  to  the  main  street  of  this  part  of  the  'rookery,'  for  so  these 
penguin  establishments  are  called. 


I O2  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS!     ZOOLOGY. 

"Other  smaller  roads  led  at  intervals  into  the  rookery  to  the  nests  near 
its  border,  but  the  main  street  was  used  by  the  majority  of  birds.  The 
birds  took  little  notice  of  us,  allowing  us  to  stand  close  by,  and  even  to 
form  ourselves  into  a  group  for  the  photographer,  in  which  they  were 
included. 

"This  kind  of  penguin  is  called  by  the  whalers  and  sealers  'rock  hop- 
per," from  its  curious  mode  of  progression.  The  birds  hop  from  rock  to 
rock  with  both  feet  placed  together,  scarcely  ever  missing  their  footing. 
When  chased,  they  blunder  and  fall  amongst  the  stones,  struggling  their 
best  to  make  off. 

"With  one  of  the  Germans  as  guide,  I  entered  the  main  street.  As 
soon  as  one  was  in  it,  the  grass  being  above  one's  head,  one  was  as  if  in 
a  maze,  and  could  not  see  in  the  least  where  one  was  going  to.  Various 
lateral  streets  lead  off  on  each  side  from  the  main  road,  and  are  often  at 
their  mouths  as  big  as  it;  moreover,  the  road  sometimes  divides  for  a  little 
and  joins  again ;  hence  it  is  the  easiest  thing  in  the  world  to  lose  one's 
way. 

"You  plunge  into  one  of  the  lanes  in  the  tall  grass  which  at  once  shuts 
out  the  surroundings  from  your  view.  You  tread  on  a  slimy  black  damp 
soil  composed  of  the  birds'  dung.  The  stench  is  overpowering,  the  yell- 
ing of  the  birds  perfectly  terrifying ;  I  can  call  it  nothing  else.  You  lose 
the  path,  or  perhaps  are  bent  from  the  first  in  making  direct  for  some  spot 
on  the  other  side  of  the  rookery. 

"In  the  path  only  a  few  droves  of  penguins,  on  their  way  to  and  from 
the  water  are  encountered,  and  these  stampede  out  of  your  way  into  the 
side  alleys.  Now  you  are,  the  instant  you  leave  the  road,  on  the  actual 
breeding  ground.  The  nests  are  placed  so  thickly  that  you  cannot  help 
treading  on  eggs  and  young  birds  at  almost  every  step. 

"A  parent  bird  sits  on  each  nest,  with  its  sharp  beak  erect  and  open, 
ready  to  bite,  yelling  savagely  'caa,  caa,  urr,  urr,'  its  red  eye  gleaming 
and  its  plumes  at  half  cock,  and  quivering  with  rage. 

"These  penguins  make  a  nest  which  is  simply  a  shallow  depression  in 
the  black  dirt  scantily  lined  with  a  few  bits  of  grass  or  not  lined  at  all. 
They  lay  two  greenish  white  eggs  about  as  big  as  duck  eggs,  and  both 
male  and  female  incubate."  (H.  M.  Moseley,  M.A.,  F.R.S.,  "Notes  by 
a  Naturalist  on  the  'Challenger,'"  1879,  pp.  117,  119,  120,  121.) 

"Before  going  on  board  we  went  to  see  a  collection  of  penguins  from 


AVES SPHENISCID/E.  1 03 

various  localities  in  the  islands,  collected  by  the  Zoological  Society's 
keeper  Secante  for  the  gardens.  Five  species  were  represented  —  i.  e., 
the  king  (Aptenodytes  pennanti],  jackass  (Spheniscus  magellanicus],  gen- 
too  (E^tdyptes  chrysocome],  macaroni  (Pygoscelis  wagleri],  and  rock- 
hopper  (Eudyptes  nigrivestis] ;  and  they  formed  a  most  amusing  assem- 
blage—  some  prancing  up  and  down,  with  their  little  wings  stuck  out, 
with  an  air  of  bustle  and  infinite  self-importance,  some  walking  slowly  up 
to  us,  and  gazing  at  us  with  solemn  curiosity,  while  others  remained  sta- 
tionary and  apparently  lost  in  thought. 

"Of  these  species  the  rock-hopper  (Eudyptes  nigrivestis]  is  perhaps  the 
most  common  at  the  Falkland  Islands;  and  two  large  'rookeries,'  as  they 
are  termed,  of  these  birds  occur  not  very  far  from  Stanley  —  one  at  Kidney 
Island,  on  the  southern  side  of  the  entrance  to  Berkeley  Sound,  and  the 
other  at  Sparrow  Cove,  off  Port  William.  Circumstances  did  not,  to  my 
regret,  permit  of  my  visiting  either  of  these,  but  I  extract  the  following 
short  account  of  that  at  Sparrow  Cove  from  Captain  Mayne's  Journal : 
'  The  rookery  was  in  a  sort  of  small  cove,  the  sides  of  which,  though  not 
perpendicular,  were  very  steep,  and  about  100  feet  high;  the  entrance  to 
the  cove  was  narrow  and  steep,  with  rugged  bluff  rocks  on  either  side,  the 
whole  making  a  kind  of  rugged  amphitheatre,  with  water  for  the  pit.  All 
the  sides  were  rugged,  with  projecting  knobs  of  rocks  jutting  out  in  all 
directions,  and  every  part  of  the  whole  of  this  was  covered  with  penguins. 
•My  estimate  of  the  number  was  the  lowest  made,  and  I  guessed  it  at 
20,000 ;  but  there  might  have  been  any  number  between  that  and  50,000 
or  60,000.'"  (Cunn.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.,  1871,  pp.  292-293.) 


CATARRHACTES  CHRYSOLOPHUS  Brandt. 

Macaroni  Penguin,  Weddell,  Voy.  South  Pole,  p.  57  (1825  :  South  Georgia). 
Catarhactes chrysohphus,  Brandt,  Bull.  Acad.  St.  Petersb.  II.  p.3i5  (1837). 
Eudyptes  demersiis  (nee  Linn.)  Gray,  List  B.  part  III.  p.  155  (1844). 
Eiidyptes  chrysolophus,  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  641,  pi.  176  fig.  i  (1846); 

Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  390  (Falkland  Isl.),  1861,  p.  47;  Abbott,  Ibis, 

1861,  p.  163;    Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  527;    Hyatt.  Proc.  Bost.  Soc. 

Nat.  Hist.  XIV.  p.  250  (1872:  Falkland  Isl.);  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S. 

1878,  p.  654;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1879,  p.  311  (Falkland  Isl.:  eggs);  Milne 


104 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 


Edwards,  Ann.   Sci.  Nac.  (6)  IX.  art  9,  p.  53  (1880);    Scl.  &  Salv. 

Voy.  Chall.  II.  Birds,  p.  127,  pi.  xxx  (1881  :  Falkland  Isl):  breeding); 
.Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part  X.  p.  250  (1888:  Falk- 
land Isl.),  part  XI.  p.  321  (1890);  Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux, 

p.  320  (1891). 
Eudyptes  chrysocome  (nee  Forst),  Abbott,  Ibis,    1860,  p.  337  (Falkland 

Isl.;  breeds  in  Nov.). 
Eudyptes  diadeniatus,  Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  419  (Falkland  Isl.);  Scl. 

1 86 1,  p.  46  (loc.  cit);  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  163;  Coues,  Proc.  Acad. 

Philad.  1872,  p.  206. 

E^idyptes  chrysohpha,  Gray,  Hand-List  B.  III.  p.  98,  no.  10792  (1871). 
Spheniscus  diadematus,  Schl.  Mus.  Pays-Bas,  VI.  Urinat.  p.  8  (1867:   pt. 

Falkland  Isl.). 
Catarrhactes  chrysolophus,  Grant,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVI.  p.  641  (1898); 

Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  118  (1899);  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit. 

Mus.  I.  p.  144  (1901). 


FIG.  61. 


FIG.  62. 


Catarrhactes  chrysolophus.     Profile  head 
and  neck.  natural  size. 


Catarrhactes  chrysoloplius.     Head  from 
above.      ^5  natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size  (adult  males). — Total  length,  about  30  inches. 

Bill :  Gape  to  tip,  2.8  to  2.9  inches. 

Nasal  feathers  to  tip,  2.0  to  2.05  inches. 


AVES SPHENISCID/E.  1 05 

Exposed  oilmen,  2.4  to  2.55  inches. 

Wing,  from  shoulder  to  tip,  8.0  to  8.  i  inches. 

Tail,  3.5  to  3.9  inches. 

Adult  female  birds  are  somewhat  smaller  than  adult  males,  and  the  size 
of  the  bill  varies  much  with  age,  being  least  developed  in  immature  full 
grown  birds  of  the  previous  year. 

Color  (adult). — The  general  color  of  the  upper  parts  is  similar  to  that 
of  C.  chrysocome,  dark  slate ;  the  under  parts  white. 

Head :  The  forehead,  and  back  of  the  crown  black,  the  feathers  of  the 
middle  and  sides  of  the  crown  being  golden  orange  at  their  bases,  with 
lengthened  pointed  black  extremities.  A  superciliary  stripe  much  as  in  C. 
chrysocome  but  only  the  posterior  feathers  elongated  into  plumes.  They 
are  uniform  orange  in  color,  the  longest  measuring  about  three  (3)  inches. 
The  sides  of  the  head  and  face  smoky  black. 

Neck :  Above  like  the  back,  dark  slate ;  each  pointed  feather  black  or 
dusky,  edged  externally  with  dark  bluish  slate.  Below  white,  except  the 
upper  neck,  the  throat  and  chin  which  are  deep  smoky  black.  The  throat 
has  a  distinct  silver  shading. 

Back  :  Similar  to  that  of  C.  chrysocome.  Some  individuals  have  a' 
well-defined  patch  of  greyish  white  in  the  middle  of  the  upper  tail  coverts. 

Wing  (Flipper):  The  upper  surface. is  like  the  back,  edged  posteriorly 
with  white.  The  lower  surface  is  white,  shading  into  blackish  on  the 
anterior  margin,  especially  toward  the  tip.  There  is  a  black  patch  at  the 
base  of  the  posterior  margin. 

Tail,  composed  of  fourteen  (14)  feathers  and  colored  like  the  back. 

Immature  birds  differ  from  adults  in  having  the  basal  part  of  the 
feathers  of  the  crown  and  superciliaries  yellower,  and  in  the  much  smaller 
size  of  the  bill. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Falkland  Islands,  South  Georgia,  Prince  Edward 
Island,  Maroni  Island,  Kerguelen  Island  and  Heard  Island. 

The  Macaroni  Penguin  was  not  obtained  by  the  Princeton  Expedi- 
tions. The  description  is  based  on  material  in  the  British  Museum  of 
Natural  History. 

At  Kerguelen  Island  Dr.  Kidder  describes  this  penguin  breeding  as 
follows : 


106  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

"Begins  to  lay  about  the  first  of  December,  building  among  fallen 
rocks  by  the  sea,  making  nests  which  are  more  complete  than  those  of 
Pygoscelis  tceniata,  and  lining  them  with  dried  grass.  There  are  two 
eggs  to  a  nest  white,  with  a  faint  tinge  of  greenish,  obtusely  ovoid  in 
shape,  and  usually  one  is  distinctly  larger  than  the  other.  The  shell 
is  thick,  friable,  inelastic,  and  often  smeared  in  parts  with  calcareous 
deposit.  The  external  surface  is  punctured  by  minute  pores,  scattered 
widely  apart,  but  presents  no  distinct  surface-marking."  (Natural  His- 
tory of  Kerguelen  Island,  J.  H.  Kidder,  M.D.,  Bull.  No.  3,  U.  S.  Nat. 
Mus.,  p.  19,  1876.) 

Genus  SPHENISCUS  Brisson. 

Type. 

Spheniscus,  Brisson,  Orn.  vi.  p.  96  ( 1 760) ;  Hyatt,  Pro. 
Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  xiv.  p.  242  (1872);  Ogilvie- 
Grant,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  xxvi.  p.  648  (1898);  Sharpe, 
Hand-List  Bds.  i.  p.  119  (1899) S.  demersus. 

Dypsicles,  Gloger,  Hand.-u.  Hilfsb.  p.  476  (1842)     .     .     .     S.  demersus. 

Geographical  Range. — Straits  of  Magellan,  northward,  on  the  west  of 
South  America  to  the  coast  of  Peru  and  to  the  Galapagos  Islands ;  on  the 
east  coast  of  South  America  to  Rio  Grande  do  Sul,  Brazil.  The  Falk- 
land Islands  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 


SPHENISCUS  HUMBOLDTI  Meyen. 

Spheniscus  humboldti,  Meyen,  Nov.  Act.  Acad.  Caes.  Leop.-Carol.  XVI. 
Suppl.  p.  no,  tab.  21  (1834);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867,  pp.  337,  340 
(Chile);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  151  (1873);  Reid,  Ibis, 
1874,  p.  83  (Juan  Fernandez);  Salv.  Ibis,  1875,  p.  377;  Bartlett,  P. 
Z.  S.  1879,  pp.  6-9,  figs,  i,  2  (habits  &  moult) ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  Voy. 
Chall.  II.  Birds,  p.  126  (1881  :  Chile) ;  Grant,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  xxvi. 
p.  650  (1898);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  119  (1899);  Gates,  Cat. 
Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  146  (1901);  Phil.  An.  Mus.  Chile  XV. 
pis.  36  and  37  (1902). 


AVES SPHENISCID^E. 


107 


Eudyptes  humboldtii,  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  640  (1846);  Pelz.  Reis.  No- 
vara,  p.  142  (1865:  Chile);  Gray,  Hand-List  B.  III.  p.  99,  no. 
10800  (1871). 

Spheniscits  demersus,  Schl.  (nee  Linn.)  Mus.  Pays-Bas  Urinat.  p.  10 
(1867);  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1872,  p.  209  (part). 

FIG.  63.  Fio.  64. 


Spheniscus  humboldti.     Profile  head 
and  neck.  natural  size. 


Spheniscus  humboldti.     Head  from 
above.  natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size  (adult). — Total  length,  about  27  inches. 

Bill :  Gape  to  tip,  3.05  inches. 

Exposed  culmen,  2.6  inches. 

Wing,  from  shoulder  8.4  inches. 

Tail,  1.4  inches. 

Color  (adult). — General  color  of  the  upper  parts  dusky  or  black  ante- 
riorly, shading  into  slate  grey,  which  is  brightest  on  the  upper  tail  coverts. 

The  lower  parts  are  white,  except  for  a  black  band  on  the  chest  extend- 
ing down  each  side  of  body  to  the  tail. 

Head :  The  forehead  and  middle  of  the  crown  as  well  as  the  sides  of 
head  and  face  black.  This  is  broken  by  a  white  stripe,  beginning  behind 
the  eye.  This  stripe  does  not  extend,  as  in  S.  demersus  forward  above  the 
eye  to  the  lores,  and  is  much  narrower  than  the  superciliary  stripe  in  that 
species. 

Neck :  Above  much  like  the  middle  of  the  crown  in  color  becoming 
more  greyish  dusky  where  it  joins  the  body.  The  chin  and  throat  are 
black,  and  the  rest  of  the  neck,  including  the  sides  and  lower  parts,  are 
pure  white. 


IO8  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

Back :  Dusky  grey  anteriorly,  becoming  slate  grey  which  is  brightest  on 
the  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts. 

Wing  (flipper) :  Upper  surface  dark  bluish  grey.  Lower  surface  white 
with  areas  of  dusky,  giving  a  mottled  appearance. 

Lower  surface :   Generally  white.     Across  the  chest  is  a  curved  black 

band  which  continues  down  each  side  of  the  body  to  the  tail,  and  being 

widest  on  the  sides  and  decreasing  till  it  is  narrowest  along  the  thighs. 

This  band  is  wider  throughqut  than  is  the  similar  decoration  in  S.  demersus. 

.  Tail :  Composed  of  twenty  feathers  and  colored  like  the  back. 

Immature  birds  differ  from  the  adults  in  having  the  chin,  throat  and 
sides  of  the  head  grey  mixed  with  some  white  feathers.  The  sides  and 
lower  parts  of  the  neck  are  smoky"brown.  The  band  across  the  chest 
and  'down  the  sides  is  absent. 

4 

Geographical  Range. — Western  coast  of  Chili  and  Peru. 

Humboldt's  Penguin  was  not  collected  by  the  several  expeditions  sent 
out  by  Princeton  University  and  the  material  forming  a  basis  for  the 
description  here  given  is  in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History. 

"On  the  24th  of  January,  1878,  a  specimen  of  Humboldt's  Penguin 
(Spheniscus  humboldti]  was  purchased  from  a  dealer  in  Liverpool.  The 
bird  was  in  poor  condition  when  received,  and  very  dirty,  but  perfectly 
tame,  following  one  about,  and  seeming  pleased  to  be  taken  on  the  lap 
and  nursed  like  an  infant.  At  first  it  required  to  be  fed  by  hand ;  for  if 
its  food  was  placed  on  the  ground  the  bird  took  no  notice  of  it,  although 
hungry.  After  a  few  days,  if  living  fishes  were  thrown  to  it  and  the  bird 
saw  them  jumping  about  on  the  floor,  it  began. to  pick  up  the  fishes  and 
swallow  them.  From  this  and  from  the  colour  and  condition  of  its  plum- 
age, I  have  no  doubt  that  the  bird  had  been  reared  from  the  nest,  and  had 
never  previously  fed  itself. 

"  It  was  some  days  before  the  penguin  ventured  into  the  water;  but  after 
the  first  wash  the  bird  rapidly  improved  ;  the  feathers  became  clean ;  its 
appetite  increased ;  and  it  passed  much  time  in  the  water,  evidently  gain- 
ing strength  and  weight.  About  this  time  it  frequently  uttered  its  loud 
braying  jackass-like  notes,  and  became  fat  and  in  full  vigour.  Figure  i 
(p.  7)  gives  a  very  faithful  representation  of  the  bird  at  this  time.  About 


AVES SPHENISCID/G. 

the  22nd  of  February,  the  bird  appeared  dull,  and  with  half-closed  eyes 
moped  about:  it  became  ill-tempered  and  spiteful,  bit  at  any  one  who 
offered  to  touch  it,  and  avoided  going  into  the  water.  The  bird  looked 
larger  than  before,  its  feathers  standing  out  from  its  body  during  this 
condition ;  but  its  appetite  continued  good,  and  it  fed  as  freely  as  usual. 

"  In  a  few  days  the  feathers  began  to  fall  off  from  all  parts  of  the  bird, 
not,  as  birds  usually  moult,  a  few  feathers  at  a  time,  but  in  large  quantities : 
for  instance,  the  bird  generally  remained  stationary  during  the  night,  and 
in  the  morning  there  was  left  round  it  a  circle  of  cast  feathers  that  had 
been  shed  during  the  night.  So  rapidly  did  the  process  of  moulting  go 
on,  that  by  the  yth  of  March  the  bird  had  entirely  renewed  its  plumage, 
and  appeared  in  the  adult  dress,  as  represented  in  figure  2  (p.  8).  The 
manner  in  which  the  flipper-like  wings  cast  off  the  short  scale  like-feathers 
was  remarkable :  they  flaked  off  like  the  shedding  of  the  skin  of  a  ser- 
pent ;  the  new  feathers  being  already  plainly  visible,  the  old  feathers  were 
pushed  off  by  the  new  ones ;  this  was  very  clearly  noticeable,  as  many  of 
the  old  feathers  could  be  seen  still  attached  to  the  tips  of  the  new  feathers, 
so  that  the  bird  was  entirely  covered  with  its  new  plumage  before  the 
old  feathers  dropped  off.  The  bird  had  by  these  means  entirely  changed 
its  dress  and  appearance  in  certainly  less  than  ten  days.  It  looked  thinner 
on  account  of  the  shortness  of  its  new  feathers,  and  doubtless  from  a 
decrease  in  bulk,  consequent  upon  the  rapid  developement  of  the  entire 
plumage.  The  bird  avoided  the  water  for  a  few  days  before  it  began  to 
moult,  and  also  after  it  had  renewed  its  feathers  ;  it  soon,  however,  became 
lively,  its  eyes  assumed  their  usual  form  and  brightness,  it  took  freely  to 
the  water,  in  which  it  passed  the  greater  part  of  the  day.  Its  movements 
in  the  water  when  swimming,  diving,  and  pursuing  fish  were  most  extra- 
ordinary; it  seemed,  as  it  were,  to  fly  under  water,  using  its  flipper-like 
wings  after  the  fashion  of  a  Seal. 

"  The  Penguin  appears  so  much  at  home  in  the  water,  so  perfectly 
adapted  to  an  aquatic  life,  that  one  would  conclude  that,  but  for  the 
necessity  of  breeding  and  moulting,  this  bird  would  be  far  more  at  home 
on  the  ocean  than  in  passing  even  a  short  period  on  land,  being  so  ill- 
adapted  in  form  for  travelling  on  shore."  (Bartlett,  P.  Z.  S.  1879,  pp. 

6-9-) 


HO  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS!     ZOOLOGY. 

/ 

SPHENISCUS  MAGELLANICUS  (Forster). 

Aptenodytes  magellanica,  Forst.  Nov.  Comm.  Getting.  III.  p.  143  tab.  V 
(1781  :  Tierra  del  Fuego  :  Falkland  Isl.) ;  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  i.  p.  557 
(1788)  ;  Miller,  Cim.  Phys.  pi.  XXXIV  (1796). 

Magellanic  Pinguin,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  2,  p.  569  (1785:  Straits  of 
Magellan). 

Aptenodyta  magellanica,  Bonn.  Enc.  Meth.  I.  p.  69  pi.  18  (1790). 

Pinguinaria  magellanica,  Shaw  in  Miller,  Cim.  Phys.  p.  67  (1796). 

Spheniscus  niagellanicus,  Stephens  in  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  xiii.  p.  65  (1825) ; 
Gray,  List  B.  pt.  iii.  p.  155  (1844:  Hermit  Island);  id.  Gen.  B.  iii. 
p.  640  (1846) ;  Reichenb.  Syst.  av.  Natatores,  pi.  ii.  fig.  736  (1848) ; 
Cass.  U.  S.  Expl.  Exped.  p.  353  (1858:  Orange  Bay,  Cape  Horn); 
Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  390  (Falkland  Isl.);  id.  P.  Z.  S.  1861,  p.  47; 
Abbott,  Ibis,  1860,  p.  163,  Falkland  Isl.  (permanent  resident)  ;  Scl. 
P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  527  (E.  Falkland  Isl.);  id.  &  Sal.  Ibis.  1869,  p. 
284  (Sta.  Magdalena) ;  iid.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  151  (1873);  iid. 
P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  653;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1879,  p.  311  ;  Scl.  &  Salv. 
Voy.  Chall.  II.  Birds,  p.  125,  pi.  XXVIII  (1881  :  Port  Churrucha : 
Magellan:  Falkland  Isl.)  ;  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  17  (Tom  Bay); 
Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1882,  p.  547  ;  Vincig.  Faun.  Amer.  Austr.  Boll.  Soc. 
Geogr.  Ital.  XXI.  p.  800  (1884);  Scl.  Ibis,  1889,  p.  144  (Rio  de  la 
Plata) ;  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires  III.  Part  X.  p.  249 
(1888:  Str.  Magellan);  Oust.  Miss,  Cap  Horn  Ois.  p.  243  (1891); 
Moseley,  Notes,  Voy.  Chall.  p.  486  (1892) ;  Aplin,  Ibis,  1894,  p.  212 
(Maldonado);  Grant,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXVI.  p.  651  (1898); 
Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  119  (1899);  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2) 
xx.  p.  634  (1900  :  Leones  Isl.,  Santa  Cruz,  Jan.  ;  Penguin  Rookery, 
Feb.)  ;  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  146  (1901);  Valient. 
Journ.  Inst.  Cornwall,  XIV.  p.  350  (1901  :  Falklands). 

Aptenodytes  brasiliensis,  Forst.  Descr.  Anim.  p.  355  (1844). 

Eiidyptes  brasiliensis,  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  640  (1846). 

Aptenodytes  magnirostris,  Peak,  U.  S.  Expl.  Exped.  Birds,  p.  263,  pi.  71, 
fig.  i  (1848:  Tierra  del  Fuego). 

Spheniscus  demersus  (nee  Linn.),  Cass.  U.  S.  Expl.  Exped.  Birds,  p.  354 
(1858:  young;  Cape  Horn);  Cunn.  Ibis.  1868,  p.  489  (Santa  Mag- 
dalena, Dec.);  Hyatt,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  XIV.  p.  248  pt. 
(1872:  Tierra  del  Fuego). 


AVES SPHENISCID^E. 


II  I 


Aptenodytes  demersa  (nee  Linn.),  Abbott,  Ibis,  1860,  p.  336  (Falkland  Isl.). 
Eudyptes  magellanica  Gray,  Hand-List  B.  III.  p.  99,  no.  10799  (1871). 
Spheniscus  demerstis  var.  rnagellanicus,  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1872, 

p.  211    (Tierra  del  Fuego);  Milne  Edwards,  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  (6)  IX. 

art.  IX.  p.  63  (1880). 
Sphenisctis  trifasciatus  Philippi,  Zeit.  ges.  Naturw.  (2)  VII.  p.  121,  pis.  i, 

2  (1872:  Valdivia,  Chile). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size  (adult  male). --Total  length,  about  28  inches. 

Bill :  Gape  to  tip,  2.8  inches. 

Exposed  oilmen,  2.15  inches. 

Wing  (from  shoulder  to  tip),  9.0  inches. 

Tail,  1.4  inches. 

The  adult  female  is  appreciably  smaller  than  the  adult  male. 

FIG.  65.  FIG.  66. 


mm 


w&ft 

s!"^ 

f 


"&W 
pital 


Spheniscus  magcllanicus.     Profile  head  and 
neck,  natural  size. 


Spheniscus  magellanicus.    Head  from  above. 
*A  natural  size. 


Color  (adult). — The  coloring  throughout  is  much  like  that  of  S.  hum- 
boldti,  but  there  is  an  additional  band  of  brownish  black  across  the  lower 
neck,  between  the  dark  area  of  the  throat  and  the  curved  pectoral  band. 
This  brownish  black  band  is  broad  and  clearly  denned,  and  connects  with 
the  dark  area  of  the  upper  parts. 

Wing  (flipper) :  Above  as  in  S.  humboldti,  and  below  white,  dotted 
with  many  spots  of  black.  This  last  marking  varies  much  in  individuals, 
being  almost  or  quite  obsolete  in  some  examples. 


112  PATAGONIAN     EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

Tail :  Composed  of  twenty  feathers  and  colored  as  in  S  humboldti. 

Immature  birds  resemble  those  of  a  similar  age  of  S.  humboldti.  The 
breast  and  belly  however  are  less  marked  or  almost  devoid  of  blackish 
spots,  and  the  under  surface  of  the  flippers  is  immaculate  except  at  the 
tip  and  near  the  base. 

"Iris  brown;  edges  of  eyelids  black;  bill  horn-colour;  feet  in  front 
black'mottled  with  white,  behind  black  all  over."  (Dr.  Coppinger.) 

"Bill  black;  legs  grey  spotted  with  black;  claws  black."  (Dr.  Cop- 
pinger.) 

"Tom  Bay,  April  7,  1879.  Iris  brown;  eyelids'  edges  black,  not  flesh- 
colour;  bill  horn-colour;  feet  in  front  black  mottled  with  white,  behind 
black  all  over. 

"Male  juv.:  Tom  Bay,  February  17,  1879.  Iris  brown;  eyelids  black; 
bill  black ;  legs  grey  spotted  with  black ;  claws  black. 

"Female:  Tom  Bay,  April  5,  1879.  Bill  horn-colour;  iris  brown;  legs 
in  front  grey  spotted  with  black;  behind  black.  (Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881, 
P-  I7-) 

Geographical  Range.  —  Tierra  del  Fuego  and  the  coast  of  Patagonia. 
Coasts  of  South  America,  north  on  the  west  coast  to  central  Chili,  and  on 
the  east  coast  to  Rio  Grande  do  Sul,  Brazil.  The  Falkland  Islands  and 
South  Georgia. 

*• 

The  descriptions  are  based  on  examples  of  this  penguin  in  the  British 
Museum  of  Natural  History.  The  Princeton  Expeditions  to  Patagonia 
did  not  obtain  representatives  of  the  Magellanic  penguin. 

"I  paid  a  visit  to  an  island  in  False  Bay,  called  Seal  Island.  It  is  a 
mere  shelving  rock  on  which  it  is  only  possible  to  land  on  very  favorable 
occasions.  The  whole  place  is  a  rookery  of  the  jackass  penguin  (Sphe- 
niscus  demersa].  It  is  an  ugly  bird  as  compared  with  the  crested  penguin 
of  Tristan  da  Cunha;  the  bill  is  blunter,  but  the  bird  can  nevertheless 
bite  hard  with  it  (all  the  penguins  seem  to  bite  rather  than  peck).  The 
birds  here  nested  on  the  open  rock,  which  was  fully  exposed  to  the  burn- 
ing sun  and  occasional  rain.  It  must  not  be  supposed  that  either  pen- 
guins or  albatrosses  are  necessarily  inhabitants  of  cold  climates  ;  a  species 
of  penguin  and  an  albatross  breed  at  the  Galapagos  Archipelago,  almost 
exactly  on  the  equator. 


J.  PIERPONT  MORGAN  PUBLICATION  FUND 


REPORTS  OF  THE 


PRINCETON  UNIVERSITY  EXPEDITIONS 

TO  PATAGONIA,  1896-1899 


J.  B.   HATCHER 

IN   CHARGE 


EDITED   BY 

WILLIAM  B.  SCOTT 

BLAIR   PROFESSOR   OF   GEOLOGY   AND   PALAEONTOLOGY,   PRINCETON   UNIVERSITY 


VOLUME  II,  2 
ZOOLOGY 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

STUTTGART 

SCHWEIZERBART'SCHE  VERLAGSHANDLUNG  (E.  NAGELE) 
1915-27 


J.  PIERPONT  MORGAN  PUBLICATION  FUND 


REPORTS  OF  THE 

PRINCETON  UNIVERSITY  EXPEDITIONS  TO  PATAGONIA 

1896-1899 


VOLUME  II.  2 

ORNITHOLOGY 

PHALACROCORACID.E — FALCONID.E 

BY 

WILLIAM  EARL  DODGE  SCOTT  ASSOCIATED  WITH  R.  BOWDLER  SHARPE 

PRINCETON  UNIVERSITY  BRmsH  MUSEUM  NATURAL  HISTORY 

STRIGID.E  —  ICTERID^E 

BY 

WITMER  STONE 

ACADEMY   OF   NATURAL   SCIENCES,   PHILADELPHIA 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 
THE  UNIVERSITY 

STUTTGART 

SCHWEIZERBART'SCHE  VERLAGSHANDLUNG  (E.  NAGELE) 
1915-27 


LANCASTER  PRESS,  INC. 
LANCASTER.  PA. 


J.   PIERPONT   MORGAN   PUBLICATION   FUND 

/ 

Reports  of 

Phe  /Princeton  University  Expeditions 

L_— ^....  J  1 

to  Patagonia,  1896-1899 

J.   B.   HATCHER,   IN  CHARGE 

KDITED    BY 

WILLIAM   B.  SCOTT 

BI.AIR    PROFESSOR    OF    GEOLOGY    AND    PALAEONTOLOGY,    PRINCETON    UNIVERSITY 


VOLUME    II  — ORNITHOLOGY 


PART    II.  /' 

( 

PROCELLARIID^  —  CHARADRIID.E 


BY 

ILLIAM   EARL  DODGE  SCOTT         ASSOCIATED  WITH  R.  BOWDLER    SHARPE 

PRINCETON    UNIVERSITY  BRITISH    MUSEUM    OF    NATURAL    HISTORY 


-    H3-344) 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 
THE  UNIVERSITY 
STUTTGART 

E.  SCHWEIZERBART'SCHE  VERLAGSHANDLUNG  (E.  NAGELE) 

1910 


Issued  March  3,  1910 


PRESS  or 

THE  NEW  ERA  PRINTING  COMPANT 
LANCASTER.  PA 


AVES SPHENISCID^E.  113 

"There  was  no|  a  blade  of  grass  on  the  rock,  but  it  was  covered  with 
guano,  with  little  pools  of  filthy  green  water.  The  birds  nested  under 
big  stones,  wherever  there  was  place  for  them ;  most  of-  the  nests  were, 
however,  quite  in  the  open.  The  nests  were  formed  of  small  stones  and 
shells  of  a  Balanus,  of  which  there  were  heaps  washed  up  by  the  surf,  and 
of  old  bits  of  wood,  nails,  and  bits  of  rope,  picked  up  about  the  ruins  of 
a  hut  which  were  rotting  on  the  island,  together  with  an  old  sail,  some 
boat's  spars,  and  bags  of  guano,  evidently  left  behind  by  guano-seekers. 
The  object  of  thus  making  the  nest  is  no  doubt  to  some  extent  to  secure 
drainage  in  case  of  rain,  and  to  keep  the  eggs  out  of  water  washing  over 
the  rocks ;  but  the  birds  evidently  have  a  sort  of  magpie-like  delight  in 
curiosities.  Spheniscus  magellanicus  at  the  Falkland  Islands,  similarly 
collects  variously  colored  pebbles  at  the  mouth  of  its  burrow.  Two  pairs 
of  the  birds  had  built  inside  the  ruins  of  the  hut. 

"All  the  birds  fought  furiously,  and  were  very  hard  to  kill.  They 
make  a  noise  very  like  the  braying  of  donkeys,  hence  their  name ;  they  do 
not  hop,  but  run  or  waddle.  They  do  not  leap  out  of  the  water  like  the 
crested  penguins  when  swimming,  but  merely  come  to  the  surface  and  sit 
there  like  ducks  for  a  while,  and  dive  again.  We  dragged  off  a  number 
in  the  boat  for  stuffing,  and  took  young  and  eggs ;  the  old  ones  fought 
hard  in  the  boat  and  tried  to  bite  one  another's  eyes  out."  (Moseley, 
Notes  Natur.  Chall.,  1879,  pp.  155-156.) 

"Not  far  from  Stanley  Harbour  there  are  rookeries  of  the  Magellan 
jackass  penguin  (Spheniscus  magellanicus].  The  birds  make  large  and 
deep  burrows  in  the  peat  banks  on  the  sea-shores,  and  large  numbers 
make  their  burrows  together,  so  that  the  ground  is  hollowed  out  in  all 
directions. 

"Round  the  mouths  of  their  burrows  and  on  the  even  surface  of  the 
banks,  between  the  holes,  the  birds  lay  out  pebbles  which  they  must  carry 
up  from  the  sea-shore  for  the  purpose.  The  pebbles  are  of  various 
colours,  and  the  birds  seem  to  collect  them  from  curiosity,  at  least  there 
appears  to  be  no  other  explanation  of  the  fact.  The  edges  of  the  birds' 
bills  are  excessively  sharp,  and  one  of  them  bit  me  as  I  was  trying  to  se- 
cure it,  and  cut  a  strip  out  of  my  finger  as  clean  as  if  it  had  been  done 
with  a  razor."  (Moseley,  Notes  Natur.  Chall.,  1879,  p.  560.) 

"  But  a  no  less  curious  sight  was  in  store  for  us ;  for  on  climbing  to  the 
summit  of  one  of  the  high  banks,  we  beheld  a  company  of  penguins 


114  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

(Spkeniscus  magellanicus],  which,  after  standing  erect  and  staring  at  us 
in  a  stupid  manner  for  a  few  moments,  shuffled  off;  their  little  wings 
hanging  limp  at  their  sides,  and  their  dark  gray  and  white  colouring,  and 
reeling  movements,  suggesting  a  drunk  and  disorderly  funeral  procession. 
When  hard  pressed  they  abandoned  the  erect  position,  and  crouching 
down  on  all  fours,  if  I  may  be  permitted  the  expression,  ran  along  like 
rabbits  at  a  very  rapid  rate,  using  their  wings  as  fore-legs,  till  they  gained 
their  burrows,  fairly  ensconed  in  which  they  faced  their  pursuers,  and, 
slowly  turning  about  their  heads  from  side  to  side,  barked  and  brayed  in 
the  most  ridiculous  manner,  offering  a  stout  resistance  to  being  captured 
by  biting  most  viciously  with  their  strong  bills.  While  contemplating 
one  individual  in  its  den,  I  was  suddenly  startled  by  a  loud  '  Ho-ho-ho- 
ho-ho '  close  to  me,  and  turning  round  perceived  another  bird,  which  had 
boldly  walked  out  of  a  neighboring  burrow,  and  was  thus  addressing  me." 
(Cunn.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.,  1871,  pp.  270-271.) 


Order    PROCELLARIIFORMES. 

Sharpe,  Classif.  Birds,  p.  71  (1891);  id.  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  120  (1899); 
Pycraft,  P.  Z.  S.  1899,  pp.  381-411,  pis.  xxii.  and  xxiii.  (Osteology). 


Family   PROCELLARIID.E. 

Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  342  (1896);   Sharpe,   Hand-List 
Bds.  p.  120  (1899). 


Subfamily    OCEANITIN.E. 
Salvin,  t.  c.  p.  358  (1896);  Sharpe,  t.  c.  p.  122  (1899). 


Genus  OCEANITES  Keyserling  &  Blasius. 

Type. 

Oceamtes,  Keyserling  &  Blasius,  Wirb.  Eur.  ii.  pp.  xciii. 
131,  238  (1840) ;  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Sci.  Philad.  1864, 


AVES PROCELLARIID^E.  I  1 5 

p.  82 ;  Forbes,  Voy.  Chall.  Zool.  iv.  pt.  xi.  p.  56 
(1882).  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  358 
(1896).  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  122  (1899).  •  O-  oceanicus. 

Geographical  Range. — Entire    Southern    Ocean.     The  Atlantic  Ocean, 
north  into  northern  portion  of  Temperate  Zone. 

OCEANITES  OCEANICA  (Kuhl). 

Procellaria  oceanica,  Kuhl,  Beitr.  p.  136  (1820:  ex  Banks  Icon.  no.  12); 

Schl.  Mus.  Pays  Bas,  IV.  Procell.  p.  6  (1863:  Chile)  ;  Scl.  &  Salv. 

Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  148  (1873). 
Thalassidroma  wilsoni,  King,  Zool.  Journ.  IV.  p.  104  (1829:  Straits  of 

Magellan);  Abbott,   Ibis,    1861,   p.    164   (Berkeley  Sound,  Falkland 

Islands,  breeding)  ;  Cunningh.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.  p.  226  (1871); 

Vincig,  Boll.  Soc.  Geogr.  Ital.  (2)  IX.  p.  799  (1884). 
Thalassidroma  oceanica,  Gould,  Voy.    "Beagle,"  Birds,   p.    141    (1841: 

Bahia  Blanca) ;  Gray,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  part  iii.  p.  161  (1844);  id. 

Gen.  B.  III.  p.  648  (1844)  Pelz.  Reis.  Novara,  Vog.  p.  144  (1865)  ; 

Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.C;hil.  p.  46  (1868);  Milne  Edwards,  Ann. 

Sci.  Nat.   (6)  XIII.  Art.  IX.  p.   18  (1882);  Burm;  An.  Mus.  Nac. 

Buenos  Aires,   III.  Part  X.   p.   248   (1888:  Northern  Patagonia  to 

Straits  of  Magellan). 
Oceanites  oceanica,  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.    1881,  p.    n.  (Lat.  9°    17'  S.,  Long. 

33°  5'  W.);  id.  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.   122  (1899);  Gates,  Cat.  Bds. 

Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  150  (1901). 
Oceanites  oceanicus,  Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  165,  332 

(1891 :  Falklands) ;  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  358  (1896) ; 

Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX.  p.  629  (1900:  north  of  Rio  Gal- 
legos,  April)  ;  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  17  (1900: 

Patagonia);  Sharpe,  Rep.  Coll.  Nat.  Hist.  "Southern  Cross,"  Aves, 

p.  146  (1902). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Adult. — Total  length,  about  6.8  inches. 

Wing,  6.1  inches. 


u6 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 


Bill,  0.7  inch. 

Tail,  lateral  rectrices,  2.7  inches  ;  central  rectrices,  2.45  inches. 
Tarsus,  1.37  inches. 

Color.     Adult. — General  color  throughout  sooty  black. 
Head :  Sooty  black,  the  forehead  paler. 
Neck :  Sooty  black. 

Back :  Sooty  black ;  the  upper  tail  coverts  immaculate  white  forming  a 
conspicuous  white  area. 


FIG.  6;. 


FIG.  68. 


Oceanites  oceanica.  Profile  of  head. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum. 
Natural  size. 


Oceanites  oceanica.  Head  from  above. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum. 
Natural  size. 


Wing :  Sooty  black,  except  the  greater  wing  coverts  which  are  slaty 
greyish,  with  distinct  whitish  edging  at  the  tips.  The  under  wing  coverts 
are  sooty. 

Tail  black,  with'the  shafts  of  the  lateral  rectrices  white  at  their  bases, 
and  a  part  of  the  inner  webs  of  the  same  equal  to  the  white  portion  of  their 
shafts  white  or  whitish. 

Lower  parts :  Paler  sooty  black  as  compared  with  the  upper  parts,  and 
with  a  white  area  on  the  flanks,  and  some  of  the  under  tail  coverts  with 
white  markings  especially  on  their  outer  webs  and  tips. 

Bill  black. 

Legs  black. 

Feet  black,  with  a  portion  of  the  web  between  the  toes  pale  orange- 
yellow. 

The  female  is  similar  to  the  male  in  size  and  color. 


AVES PROCELLARIID^t.  Iiy 

Geographical  Range. — Breeding.  Kerguelen  Island,  Falkland  Islands 
General  Distribution.  Atlantic  and  Indian  Oceans,  to  the  Antarctic  Ice 
Barrier,  north  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the  coast  of  Labrador  and  the 
British  Islands.  Indian  Ocean,  from  Mekran  coast  southward  ;  the  Aus- 
tralian Seas  and  New  Zealand. 

Wilson's  Stormy  Petrel  was  not  collected  by  the  Princeton  Expedi- 
tions, and  the  description  here  given  is  based  on  an  adult  male,  no. 
8574,  taken  off  the  coast  of  Nantucket,  Massachusetts,  3  August,  1881, 
by  William  E.  D.  Scott. 

This  Petrel  so  far  as  known  breeds  on  the  Islands  of  the  South  Atlantic 
Ocean  during  late  January,  February  and  early  March.  After  the  cares 
of  the  breeding  season  are  completed,  these  birds  migrate  northward  pas- 
sing their  winters  in  the  regions  indicated  in  their  general  geographical 
range. 

"  Nests  under  rocks,  usually  on  pretty  high  land,  laying  a  single  white 
egg.  There  are  no  eggs  in  the  collection ;  but  one  was  found  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Eaton,  of  the  English  party,  on  Thumb  Mountain,  some  fifteen  miles 
from  the  American  station,  December  8."  (Natural  History  of  Kerguelen 
Island,  J.  H.  Kidder,  M.  D.,  Bull.  no.  3,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  p.  16,  1876.) 

"Northerly  from  Dungeness  Spit."  "During  most  of  the  2Oth  we 
were  greatly  off  our  course,  beating  in  towards  the  land.  On  the  2ist  we 
noticed  a  stormy  petrel  ( Thalassidroma  Wilsonii?}  for  the  first  time,  and 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  following  day  a  number  of  petrels  of  another  spe- 
cies, brown  above,  and  white  beneath,  with  the  exception  of  the  throat, 
which  was  dark-coloured,  were  observed  flying  about  astern.  We  re- 
marked that  they  soared  at  a  much  greater  elevation  than  even  the  Cape 
pigeons  or  Fulmars.  We  never  noticed  them  light  on  the  surface  of  the 
water,  and  their  wings  appeared  proportionally  much  longer  and  nar- 
rower." (Cunn.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magellan,  1871,  p.  226.) 

Genus  GARRODIA  Forbes. 

Type. 

Garrodia,  Forbes,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  735;  id.  Voy.  Chall., 
Zool.  IV.  Pt.  xi.  p-.  56  (1882);  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit. 
Mus.  XXV.  p.  361  (1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p. 
122  (1899) G.  nereis. 


Il8  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Geographical  Range. — Southern    Ocean:    Falkland  Islands,   Kerguelen 
Island,  New  Zealand  and  Australian  Coast. 


GARRODIA  NEREIS  (Gould). 

Thalassidroma  nereis,  Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1840,  p.  178;  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III. 

p.  648  (1844);  Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1859,  p.  98  (Falkland  Islands);  Scl. 

P.  Z.  S.   1860,  p.  390  (Falkland  Isl.) ;  Abbott,  Ibis,   1861,  p.   164 

(Falklands,  March,  picked  up  dead) ;  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos 

Aires,  III.  Part  X.  p.  248  (1888:  Falkland  Isl.);  Oust.  Miss.  Sci. 

Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  307,  332  (1891  :  Falklands). 
Procellaria  nereis,  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  148  (1873). 
Garrodia  nereis,  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  361  (1896) ;  Sharpe, 

Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  122  (1899);  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh,  Sammelr. 

p.  1 8  (1900:  Falkland  Islands);  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus. 

I.  p.  150  (1901). 

FIG.  69.  FIG.  70. 


Garrodia  nereis.     Profile  of  head.     From  Garrodia  nereis.   Head  from  above.  From 

material  in  the  British  Museum.     Natural  material  in  the  British   Museum.     Natural 

size.  size. 

/ 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.    Adult. — Total  length,  about  6.7  inches. 
Wing,  5.2  inches. 
Bill,  0.65  inch. 
Tarsus,  1.25  inch. 


AVES PROCELLARIID^E.  119 

Tail,  2.7  inches. 

Color.  Adult  Male.  — General  color  above,  greyish  black ;  darkest 
anteriorly,  lightest  posteriorly.  Below  pure  white  except  on  the  neck,  the 
under  tail  coverts  and  the  flanks. 

Head  :  Dark  greyish  black. 

Neck :  Above  and  below  dark  greyish  black. 

Back :  The  same  shade  as  the  head  but  increasingly  greyer,  the  feathers 
on  the  lower  back  and  rump,  edged  with  greyish-white.  The  upper  tail- 
coverts  are  ashy,  edged  with  whitish. 

Wings :  Black.     The  median  coverts  are  ashy  and  edged  with  whitish. 

Tail :  Ashy  grey,  each  feather  broadly  tipped  with  black  forming  a 
terminal  band. 

Under  parts :  Chest,  neck  and  throat  dark  greyish  black,  which  termi- 
nates abruptly  in  pure  white  on  the  breast.  This  white  prevails  on  the 
rest  of  the  under  parts.  The  flanks  and  sides  are  shaded  or  streaked 
with  grey. 

Bill :   Black.     Iris  brown. 

Legs :  Black. 

Feet:  Dusky. 

The  female  is  similar  in  size  and  color  to  the  male. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Falkland  Islands,  Kerguelen  Island  and  the 
Southern  Ocean,  New  Zealand  and  Australian  Coasts. 

This  petrel  was  not  obtained  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions.  The 
description  is  based  on  the  material  representing  the  species  in  the  British 
Museum  of  Natural  History. 

"In  this  Society's  Proceedings  for  the  year  1840,  the  late  Mr.  Gould 
described  a  'beautiful  fairy-like'  new  species  of  Stormy  Petrel  from 
Bass's  Straits,  which  he  called  Thalassidroma  nereis  (torn.  cit.  p.  178), 
under  which  name  it  is  figured  in  the  last  volume  of  the  '  Birds  of  Aus- 
tralia.' 

"Dr.  Elliott  Coues,  in  his  revision  of  the  family  Procellariidae,  treating 
of  the  species  under  the  name  Procellaria  nereis,  says  :  '  I  have  had  the 
pleasure  of  examining  Mr.  Gould's  types  of  this  species  from  Bass's  Straits, 
Australia,  now  in  the  collection  of  the  Philadelphia  Academy.  It  is  a  beau- 
tiful little  species,  quite  unlike  any  other  known  Stormy  Petrel.  In  form  it 


1 2O  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

comes  nearer  to  Procellaria  pelagica  than  to  any  other  species ;  and  it  is 
probably  congeneric  with  it,  though  it  differs  somewhat^  in  the  proportion 
of  the  tarsus  and  toes,  and  very  widely  in  its  pattern  of  coloration.  The 
proportions  of  the  tibia  and  tarsus  differ  from  those  of  pelagica  in  the 
greater  comparative  length  of  the  former.' 

"Amongst  the  Petrels  mentioned  at  various  times  by  the  late  Prof.  Gar- 
rod  as  having  been  examined  by  him,  a  species  several  times  occurs  which 
is  doubtfully  named  'Procellaria  (or  '  Thalassidromd}  fregata?'  The 
specimens  dissected  by  him  are  now  before  me,  and  have  been  identified 
by  Mr.  Salvin  as  being  really  referable  to  the  Procellaria  nereis  of  Gould, 
an  example  of  which,  from  the  Falkland  Islands,  is  now  in  the  museum 
of  Messrs.  Salvin  and  Godman.  A  careful  examination  of  the  three  spirit- 
specimens  of  this  bird,  as  well  as  of  the  skin  mentioned,  have  convinced 
me  that  this  species  is  not  referable  to  the  true  genus  Procellaria  as  repre- 
sented by  Procellaria  pelagica,  and  is  in  fact  in  no  way  related  to  that 
group  of  Petrels,  but  has  its  nearest  allies  in  the  flat-clawed  genera  Ocean- 
ties,  Fregetta,  and  -Pelagodroma. 

"In  his  paper  on  the  muscles  of  the  thigh  in  Birds2  the  late  Prof.  Garrod 
divided  the  Nasutae,  or  Petrels,  into  two  groups,  the  'Storm  Petrels'  and 
the  Fulmaridae,  the  former  group  differing  from  the  latter  in  that  they 
possess  the  accessory  semitendinosus  muscle  (Y),  but  lack  intestinal  caeca. 
In  the  Fulmaridae,  on  the  other  hand,  the  accessory  semitendinosus 
muscle  is  absent,  but  caeca  are  present.  The  species  of  Storm  Petrels  on 
which  this  generalization  was  based  are  called,  with  doubt,  '  Procellaria 
Pelagica  and  P.  fregata?  the  latter  being  the  species  now  identified  by 
Mr.  Salvin  as  P.  nereis.  As  regards  the  first  named  species,  there  can 
be  little  or  no  doubt  that  the  bird  really  dissected  by  Prof.  Garrod,  and 
called  by  him  'Procellaria  pelagica,'  was  Wilson's  Petrel  (Oceanites 
oceanicus],  as  in  this  bird  there  are  no  caeca,  at  the  same  time  that  the 
accessory  semitendinosus  muscle  is  present.  The  true  Procellaria  pela- 
gica (of  which  I  have  lately  dissected  two  perfectly  fresh  examples)  agrees 
with  the  Fulmaridae,  as  defined  by  Prof.  Garrod,  in  having  caeca,  but  no 
accessory  head  to  the  semitendinosus  ;  and  Cymochorea  leucorrhoa  agrees 
in  both  these  points  with  Procellaria  pelagica. 

"The  so-called  'Procellaria  nereis'  of  Gould  is  therefore  obviously  not 

1  "The  italics  are  mine.     W.  A.  F." 

2  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  122. 


AVES PROCELLARIID^.  1 2  I 

a  true  Procellaria  at  all ;  and  this  view  is  confirmed  by  other  characters, 
such  as  the  shape  of  its  nostrils,  the  elongated  tarsi,  which  are  much 
longer  than  the  mid  toe  and  covered  anteriorly  with  transversely  arranged 
scutellse,  the  very  minute  hallux,  and  the  lamellar,  concave  form  of  the 
claws.  It  belongs,  in  fact,  to  the  group  of  Oceanites,  Fregetta  and  Pelag- 
odroma,  but  is  not  exactly  congeneric  with  any  of  them.  I  propose 
therefore  to  make  it  the  type  of  a  new  genus,  to  be  called  Garrodia,  in 
memory  of  my  lamented  friend  A.  H.  Garrod,  not  only  as  a  token  of  my 
personal  esteem  for  and  indebtedness  to  him,  but  also  as  some  slight 
recognition  of  the  thanks  ornithologists  generally  owe  him  for  the  addi- 
tions he  made  to  our  knowledge  of  the  anatomy  of  birds. 

"The  genus  Garrodia  may  be  shortly  defined  as  follows: 

"Garrodia.  Genus  ex  ordine  Tubinarium  Oceanitse  maxime  affine,  tar  sis 
pro  digitis  longioribus  et  antice  scutellatis,  necnon  margine  sterni  posteriore 
integro  distinguendum. 

"  Type  Procellaria  nereis,  Gould. 

"  Garrodia  is  perhaps  most  closely  allied  to  Oceanites,  as  already  stated, 
but  differs  from  that  genus  in  having  the  tarso-metatarsi  covered  anteri- 
orly with  a  series  of  transverse  scutellae  instead  of  being  'entire,'  in  their 
slightly  greater  proportional  length  as  compared  with  the  third  toe,  in  the 
even  more  minute  hallux,  and  in  the  more  flattened  and  lamellar  form  of 
the  claws.  The  sternum  too  is  posteriorly  entire,  whereas  in  Oceanites 
oceanicus  it  is  slightly  notched.  The  coloration  of  the  two  genera  is  also 
quite  different.  From  Fregetta,  Garrodia  may  be  easily  distinguished  by 
the  very  different  proportions  and  forms  of  the  nails  and  feet  in  that 
genus,  and  from  Pelagodroma  by  its  much  shorter  feet  and  entire  tail. 

"These" four  genera — Oceanites,  Garrodia,  Pelagodroma  and  Fregetta  — 
form  a  very  well-marked  family  of  the  Tubinares,  which  may  be  called 
Oceanitidae,  as  distinguished  from  the  remainder  of  the  group,  or  Ful- 
maridas  of  Prof.  Garrod.  Anatomically,  these  four  genera  agree  together, 
and  differ  from  the  Fulmaridae  (on  nearly  all  the  genera  of  which,  includ- 
ing Diomedea  and  Puffinuria,  I  have  notes),  in  the  two  important  charac- 
ters already  mentioned  —  the  absence  of  caeca  and  the  presence  of  the 
accessory  semitendinosus  muscle.  Externally  they  may  be  at  once  recog- 
nized by  their  peculiar  elongated  tarsi,  lamellar  nails,  and  by  never  having 
more  than  10  secondaries,  Procellaria  and  Puffinuria  having  13,  and  the 
remaining  Fulmaridae  more  (in  Diomedea,  according  to  Nitzsch,  as  many 


122  PAT AGONIAN  EXPEDITIONS  I  ZOOLOGY. 

as  40).  My  family  Oceanitidae,  in  fact,  corresponds  to  Bonaparte's  sec- 
tion '  Unguibus  depressis'  of  his  Procellarieae,  and  to  Coues's  'second 
group'  of  the  similarly-named  section  in  his  'Review'  with  the  addition, 
in  each  case,  of  Garrodia,  included  by  both  authors  in  the  restricted 
genus  Procellaria."  (W.  A.  Forbes,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  pp.  735-737.) 

"  Nests  under  tufts  of  grass,  or  other  low  herbage,  near  the  sea.  Some- 
times it  digs  a  small  burrow ;  oftener  the  eggs  are  found  simply  covered 
by  overhanging  grass-stems,  in  low  land.  The  egg  is  single,  compact  in 
structure,  smooth,  and  very  fragile,  ellipsoidal  in  form,  and  white,  except- 
ing at  the  larger  end,  which  is  marked  by  a  collection  of  small  reddish 
spots,  interspersed  with  a  few  specks  of  very  dark  brown.  If  we  are 
correct  in  our  impression  that  the  markings  about  the  butts  of  these  eggs 
are  not  adventitions,  we  have  here  an  exception  to  the  general  rule  that 
the  Procellariidae  lay  white  eggs.  In  size,  shape,  and  coloration,  the  egg 
recalls  some  of  the  least-spotted  examples  of  that  of  the  common  Meadow 
Lark  (Sturnella  magnet] .  By  aid  of  the  lens  are  to  be  seen  a  few  pore- 
like  punctations,  widely  scattered. 

"  We  have  no  information  concerning  the  young  of  this  species,  none 
having  been  hatched  at  the  time  of  breaking  up  the  American  Station 
(January  1 1). 

(Natural  History  of  Kerguelen  Island,  J.  H.  Kidder,  M.D.,  Bull.  no. 
3,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  p.  16,  1876.) 

Genus  FREGETTA  Bonaparte. 

Type. 

Fregetta,  Bonap.  Compt.  Rend.  XLI.  p.  1113  (1855); 

id.  Consp.  Av.  ii.  p.    197  (1856);    (nee  Fregata, 

Briss,  Cuv,  etc.) ;  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Sci.  Philad. 

1864,  p.  85  ;  Forbes,  Voy.  Chall.  Zool.  IV.  Pt.  XI. 

p.  56,  etc.  (1882) ;  Coues,  Auk,  XIV.  1897,  p.  315  ; 

Auk  (Ninth   Sup.),  XVI.   1899,  p.   102;   Sharpe, 

Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  122(1899) F-  melanogaster. 

Cymodroma,  Ridgw.  in  Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgw.  Water 

Birds  N.    Am.    ii.    p.    418    (1884);    id.  Man.  N. 

Am.  Birds,  p.  71  (1887);  id.  2d  ed.  p.  71,  pi.  xv. 

fig.  3  (1896);  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV. 

p.  364  (1896) F.  melanogaster. 


AVES PROCELLARIID^E. 


123 


Geographical    Range.  —  Southern    Oceans.     North    of  the    Equator    in 
Tropical  waters. 


FREGETTA  MELANOGASTER  (Gould). 
Thalassidroma  melanogaster,  Gould,  Ann.  &  Mag.  N.  H.  XIII.  p.  367 

(1844). 
Fregetta  melanogastra,  Scl.  &  Salv.  Voy.  Chall.  II.  Birds,  App.  p.   151 

(1881  :  Falkland  Islands,  eggs);  Carbajal,  La  Patagonia,  Part  II.  p. 

277  (1900). 
Cymodroma  melanogaster,  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  364  (1896); 

Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  18  (1900). 
Fregetta  melanogaster,  Coues,  Auk,  XIV.  p.  315  (1897);  Sharpe,  Hand- 
List,  Bds.  I.  p.  122  (1899);  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p. 

151   (1901)  ;  Sharpe,  Rep.  Coll.  Nat.  Hist.  "Southern  Cross,"  Aves, 

p.  141  (1902). 


FIG.  71. 


FIG.  72. 


Fregetta  melanogaster.  Profile  of  head. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum. 
Natural  size. 


Fregetta  melanogaster.  Head  from 
above.  From  material  in  the  British 
Museum.  Natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Adult  Male. — Total  length,  about  8.0  inches. 

Wing,  7.0  inches. 

Tail,  3.2  inches. 

Bill,  0.9  inch. 


124  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

Color.  Adult  Male. — General  color  above,  sooty  black.  Below  partly 
black,  and  largely  white. 

Head :  Sooty  black. 

Neck :  Sooty  black  except  the  throat,  which  has  the  bases  of  the  feath- 
ers white,  more  or  less  concealed,  and  varying  in  amount.  In  some  indi- 
viduals it  appears  as  an  immaculate  area  and  in  the  others  the  white  is 
almost  obscured  by  the  sooty  black  ends  of  each  feather. 

Back:  Sooty  black;  the  bases  of  the  upper  tail  feathers  are  white 
more  or  less  concealed. 

Wings :  Sooty  black,  but  not  so  intense  as  on  the  head.  The  greater 
wing  coverts  are  noticeably  paler  and  the  margin  of  the  wing  is  indistinctly 
edged  with  a  paler  sooty  shade. 

Tail :  Black,  not  so  dark  in  shade  as  the  head.  The  base  of  the  lateral 
tail  feathers  is  white. 

Lower  parts :  Throat  as  described,  rest  of  lower  neck  sooty  black. 
The  breast  and  middle  of  the  abdomen  sooty.  The  bases  of  the  feathers 
of  the  sides  and  flanks  and  of  the  under  tail-coverts  pure  white  more  or 
less  obscured  by  the  sooty  larvinual  portion  of  each  feather 

Bill  black. 

Legs  black. 

Feet  dusky. 

The  female  is  similar  to  the  male  in  size  and  color. 

Geographical  Range. — The  Southern  Ocean  north  to  the  Bay  of  Ben- 
gal, and  in  the  Atlantic  north  (casually?)  to  the  Tropic  of  Cancer. 

Breeds  at  the  Falkland  Islands.  (Sclater  &  Salvin,  Voy.  Chall.  II. 
Birds,  App.  p.  151). 

This  petrel  was  not  observed  or  collected  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions. 
The  description  is  based  on  the  series  of  this  species  in  the  Collections 
of  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History. 


FREGETTA  GRALLARIA  (Vieillot). 

Procellaria  grallaria,  Vieill,   N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  XXV.  p.  418  (1817); 

Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  148  (1873). 
Thalassidroma  segethi,  Phil.  &  Landb.  Av.  Chil.  p.  46  (1868:  Valdivia). 


AVES PROCELLARIID^E. 


125 


Oceanites  grallaria,  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.   n   (St.  Ambrose  Island, 

South  Pacific,  July  20). 
Cymodroma  grallaria,  Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgway,  Water  Birds,  N.  Amer. 

II.  p.  419  (1884);  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  366  (1896). 
Fregetta  grallaria,  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  122  (1899);  Carbajal,  La 

Patagonia,  Part  II.  p.  277  (1900). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Adult  male. — Total  length  about  7.4  inches. 
Wing,  6.5  inches. 
Tail,  2.9  inches. 
Bill,  0.8  inch. 
Tarsus,  1.4  inch. 

Color.     Adult  male. — General  color  above  greyish  sooty  black,  greyer 
on  back  and  wings  with  a  white  area  on  the  rump.     Whole  lower  parts 


FIG.  73. 


FIG.  74. 


Fregetta  grallaria.     Profile  of  head.     From  ma- 
terial in  the  British  Museum.     Natural  size. 


Fregetta  grallaria.  Head  from  above. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum.  Nat- 
ural size. 


from  the  breast  backward  white,  the  neck  and  throat  sooty  like  the  upper 
parts. 

Head  :  Greyish  sooty  black. 

Neck :  Greyish  sooty  black  above  and  below. 

Back:  More  definitely  grey  than  the  head.  Each  feather  having  a 
whitish  edging.  Rump  pure  white.  Upper  tail  coverts  white. 


126  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS!     ZOOLOGY. 

Wing:  Black  with  a  greyish  tinge.  The  scapulars  greyer  and  each 
feather  edged  with  white  or  whitish. 

Tail :  Middle  pair  of  rectrices  sooty  black,  the  remaining  ones  with 
white  bases. 

Lower  parts  :  Upper  breast  and  neck  black  of  a  greyish  sooty  cast. 
Sides,  flanks,  lower  breast  and  abdomen  pure  white.  Lower  tail  coverts 
nearly  as  long  as  the  rectrices  and  greyish  sooty  black  in  color. 

Inner  under  wing  coverts  white. 

Bill  black. 

Legs  black. 

Feet  dusky. 

Iris  brown. 

The  adult  female  resembles  the  adult  male  in  size  and  color. 

"No.  65.  Female:  off  St.  Ambrose,  July  20,  1879.  Bill  and  feet 
black.  Mr.  Salvin1  has  already  suggested  the  identity  of  the  Chilian  birds 
described  by  Mr.  Elliot  and  Drs.  Philippi  and  Landbeck  with  O.  teuco- 
gastra  of  Gould  (P.  grallaria  V.) ;  and  from  the  specimen  now  sent  by 
Dr.  Coppinger,  I  must  say  that  I  can  see  no  difference  at  all."  (Sharpe, 
Pro.  Zool.  Soc.  1 88 1,  p.  n.) 

Geographical  range. — Southern  Oceans.  North  in  the  Atlantic  (casu- 
ally ?)  to  the  Florida  Coast.  (St.  Marks,  Gulf  Coast,  Florida.  Cf.  Law- 
rence, Ann.  Lye.  New  York,  V.  p.  117  (1851). 

I  am  unable  to  discover  any  record  of  the  breeding  grounds  of  this 
petrel. 

The  description  here  given  is  based  on  the  series  of  F.  grallaria  in 
the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History.  This  species  was  not  obtained 
or  observed  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to  Patagonia. 

Dr.  Coppinger  says  in  speaking  of  this  Petrel,  Fregetta  grallaria,  under 
the  head  of  Thalassidroma  leucogaster,  "In  the  course  of  this  cruise  we 
were  followed  by  great  numbers  of  petrels,  among  which  were  the  giant 
petrel  (Ossifraga  gigantea],  the  Cape  pigeon  (Daption  capensis],  and  two 
species  of  Thalassidroma  (I  think  T.  leucogaster  and  T.  Wilsoni].  I 
noticed  on  this,  as  on  several  subsequent  occasions,  that  the  little  storm 
petrel  is  in  the  habit  of  kicking  the  water  with  one  leg  when  it  is  skim- 

1  Scl.  &  Salv.  in  Voy.  Chall.,  Zool.  II.  pt.  VIII.  p.  141  (188  i). 


AVES PROCELLARIID^E.  127 

ming  the  surface  in  searching  for  its  food.  This  movement  is  usually 
seen  most  clearly  when  the  sea  presents  a  slightly  undulating  surface ; 
and  when  the  bird  strikes  the  water  in  performing  a  slight  curve  in  its 
flight,  one  can  see  that  it  is  invariably  the  outer  leg  that  is  used.  The 
object  of  this  manoeuvre  seems  to  be  to  give  the  body  sufficient  upward 
impulse  to  prevent  the  wings  from  becoming  wetted  in  rising  from  near 
the  surface.  I  have  often  observed  the  Atlantic  storm  petrels  steady 
themselves  on  the  water  with  both  legs  together,  but  have  never  seen 
them  perform  this  one-legged  'kick/  like  their  congeners  of  the  Pacific. 
There  are  contradictory  statements  in  natural  history  works  as  to  whether 
petrels  do  or  do  not  follow  ships  during  the  night  time.  Those  who 
adopt  the  negative  view  of  the  question  maintain  that  the  birds  rest  on 
the  waves  during  the  night  and  pick  up  the  ship  next  morning  by  follow- 
ing her  wake.  For  a  long  time  I  was  in  doubt  as  to  which  was  the  cor- 
rect view  to  take,  although  I  had  often  on  dark  nights,  when  sitting  on 
the  taffrail  of  the  ship,  fancied  I  had  heard  the  chirp  of  the  small  petrels. 
At  length  I  became  provoked  that  after  having  spent  so  many  years  at 
sea  I  should  still  be  in  doubt  about  such  a  matter  as  this,  so  I  began  to 
make  systematic  observations,  in  which  I  was  assisted  by  the  officers  of 
watches  and  quartermasters,  who  were  also  interested  in  the  matter. 
The  result  is  that  I  am  now  quite  certain  that  the  storm  petrel  and  Cape 
pigeon  do  follow  the  ship  by  night  as  well  as  by  day,  and  that,  moreover, 
the  night  is  the  best  time  for  catching  them.  Every  night,  for  a  time,  I 
used  to  tow  a  long  light  thread  from  the  stern  of  the  ship ;  it  was  about 
sixty  yards  long,  and  fitted  at  the  end  with  an  anchor-shaped  piece  of 
bottle  wire,  which  just  skimmed  along  the  surface  of  the  water  and  yet 
allowed  the  thread  to  float  freely  in  the  air.  I  found  this  device  a  great 
improvement  on  the  old-fashioned  method  of  using  several  unarmed 
threads,  and  in  this  way  I  caught  at  night-time,  and  even  on  the  darkest 
nights,  both  storm  petrels  and  Cape  pigeons ;  the  latter,  however,  usually 
breaking  my  thread  and  escaping.  If  I  sat  down  quietly  and  held  the 
line  lightly  between  my  finger  and  thumb,  I  would  feel  every  now  and 
then  a  vibration  as  a  bird  collided  with  it.  On  moonlight  nights,  more- 
over, one  could  always,  by  watching  carefully,  see  the  big  Cape  pigeons 
flitting  about  the  stern  of  the  ship."  (Copp.,  Cruise  "Alert,"  pp.  87-88.) 


128  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

Family  PUFFINID^E. 

Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  368  (1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List 
Bds.,  I.  p.  123  (1899). 

Subfamily  PUFFING. 
Salvin,  t.  c.  p.  368;  Sharpe,  t.  c.  p.  123. 


Genus  PUFFINUS  Brisson. 

Type. 

Puffinus,  Brisson,  Orn.  VI.  p.  131  (1760);  Coues,  Proc. 
Acad.  Sci.  Philad.  1864,  p.  127;  id.  op.  cit.  1866,  p. 
192;  Ridgw.  Man.  N.  Am.  Birds,  p.  58  (1887);  Sal- 
vin, Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  368  (1896);  Sharpe, 
Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  123  (1899) P.  puffinus. 

Nectris,  Kuhl,  Beitr.  p.  144  (1820) ;  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Sci.  Philad.  1864, 
p.  123. 

Thyellas,  Gloger,  in  Froriep's  Notizen,  XVI.  p.  279(1827);  Salv.  Ibis, 
1888,  p.  353. 

Thiellus,  Gray,  List  Gen.  Birds,  p.  78  (1840);  Bp.  Consp. 
Av.  ii.  p.  200  (1856) ;  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Sci.  Philad. 
1864,  p.  122  (=  Thyellas] P.  grams. 

Cymotomus,  Macgill.  Man.  Brit.  Birds,  p.  13  (1842).     .     .  P.  anglortim. 

Ardenna,  Reichenb.  Natiirl.  Syst.  Vog.  p.  IV.  (1852). 

Thyellodroma,  Stejn.  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  XI.  p.  93  (1888),  P.  sphenurus. 

Zalias,  Heine,   in   Heine  &  Reichenow,   Nomencl.   Mus.    Hein.   p.   362 
(1890)  (=  Thiellus]. 

Geographical  Range.  —  The  Seas  of  the  entire  world. 

PUFFINUS  GRAVIS  (O'Reilly). 

Procellaria  gravis,  O'Reilly,  Voy.  to  Greenland,  etc.,  p.  140,  pi.  xii.  fig. 

i  (1818). 
Puffinus  major,  Temm.  Man.  d'Orn.  IV.  p.  507  (1840);  Gray,  List  Bds. 

Brit.  Mus.  Part  III.  p.  158  (1844);  id.  Gen.  Bds.  III.  p.  647  (1844); 


AVES PUFFINIDyE. 


129 


Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  149  (1873);  Baird,  Brewer  & 
Ridgw.  Water  Birds  N.  Amer.  II.  p.  380  (1884);  A.  O.  U.  Check- 
List  N.  Am.  Birds,  p.  100  (1886);  2  ed.  p.  31  (1895). 
Puffinus  gravis,  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV,  p.  373  (1896:  Falk- 
land Is.);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  123  (1899);  Martens,  Hamb. 
Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  18  (1900:  Falkland  Is.) ;  A.  O.  U.  Check- 
List  2  ed.  (1895)  8th  Supplement  from  Auk,  XIV.  p.  124  (1897). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Adult  male. — Total  length,  about  19  inches. 

Wing,  12.7  inches. 

Tail,  central  rectrices,  4.65  inches;  lateral  rectrices,  3.75  inches. 

Tarsus,  2.3  inches. 

Color.     Adult  male.  —  (P.  U.  O.  C.  no.  8576.     Twenty  miles  at  sea,  off 


FIG.  75. 


FIG.  76. 


Puffinus  gravis.  Profile  of  head.  From 
material  in  the  British  Museum.  J^  natural 
size. 


Puffinus  gravis.  Head  from  above.  From 
material  in  the  British  Museum.  y2  natural 
size. 


Cape  Cod,  Massachusetts,  16  August,  1881.  William  E.  D.  Scott).  Gen- 
eral color  above  smoky  greyish  brown,  below  white  with  smoky  greyish 
on  middle  of  abdomen,  and  on  the  flanks  and  lower  tail  coverts. 

Head :  Crown  and  sides  deep  smoky  brown.     Region  in  front  of  eye 
more  or  less  mottled  smoky  brown  and  whitish. 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS!     ZOOLOGY. 

Neck :  Nape  and  upper  neck  smoky  brown  with  a  marked  greyish  tinge 
and  much  lighter  (approaching  white)  in  shade  than  the  crown  and  occi- 
put. Below  and  on  sides  white. 

Back:  Greyish  smoky  brown,  each  feather  broadly  margined  with  a 
lighter  shade,  often  approaching  white.  Longest  upper  tail  coverts  mostly 
white. 

Wing :  The  greater  coverts  like  back ;  the  shoulders  darker,  but  sim- 
ilarly margined  with  lighter  shade.  Primary  quills  dark  umber  brown  on 
their  exposed  surfaces,  becoming  white  on  the  under  webs,  both  webs  and 
the  shafts  white  at  their  bases. 

Tail :  Dark  umber  brown,  the  central  rectrices  nearly  an  inch  longer 
than  the  outer  ones.  The  intermediate  feathers  graded  to  form  a  rounded 
tail  when  spread. 

Lower  parts  white,  except  on  the  middle  of  the  abdomen,  where  the 
white  is  more  or  less  obscured  by  smoky  grey.  Flanks  smoky  grey  with 
lighter  edging  to  the  feathers.  Lower  tail  coverts  smoky  grey  with 
mottling  and  broad  tipping  of  whitish.  Some  of  the  feathers  on  the 
sides  under  the  wings  are  mottled  with  dark  greyish  smoke  color. 

Bill :  Dark  brown  color,  paler  on  the  lower  mandible. 

Tarsus :  Outer  surface  dark  umber  brown,  inner  surface  yellowish  flesh 
color. 

Feet  and  webs  pale  yellowish  flesh  color  darkest  above,  lightest  below. 
The  exterior  toe  umber  brown  like  the  outer  surface  of  the  tarsus. 

Iris  :  Dark  hazel  brown. 

The  female  is  similar  to  the  male  in  color  but  averages  a  little  smaller 
in  size. 

Geographical  Range. — Atlantic  Ocean.  From  the  Faroe  Islands  and 
Greenland  on  the  north,  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  the  Falkland  Islands 
and  Cape  Horn. 

There  appear  to  be  no  definite  records  of  the  breeding  range  of  P.  grams. 

This  bird  was  not  obtained  or  observed  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions 
to  Patagonia.  The  description  is  based  on  an  apparently  adult  male, 
cited  above,  compared  with  twenty  six  (26)  other  individuals  all  taken 
about  twenty  miles  off  the  coast  of  Cape  Cod,  Massachusetts,  nos.  8577 
to  8602  P.  U.  O.  Coll.  August  1 88 1  (William  E.  D.  Scott,  collector). 


AVES PUFFINID^E. 


"  So  far  as  I  can  ascertain,  there  is  no  authentic  account  of  the  breeding- 
habits  of  this  Shearwater ;  and  the  eggs  which  do  duty  in  the  cabinets  of 
collectors  as  belonging  to  it  are  almost  always  those  of  Puffimis  kuhli." 
(H.  E.  Dresser,  Bds.  Europe,  VIII.  p.  531,  1877.) 


PUFFINUS  GRISEUS  (Gmelin). 

Grey  Petrel,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  2.  p.  399  (1785). 

Procellaria  griseus,  Gm.  Syst:  Nat.  I.  p.  564  (1788). 

Nectris  amaurosoma,  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.,  p.  47  (1868:  Coast 

of  Chile,  common);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Ibis,  1870,  p.  500  (Coquimbo,  Aug.); 

iid.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  149  (1873:  Chile). 
Puffinus  griseits,  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit  Mus.  XXV.  p.  386  (1896:  Straits 

of  Magellan);  Lane,  Ibis,  1897,  P-  312  (Corral);  Sharpe,  Hand-List 

Bds.  I.  p.  124  (1899:  Straits  of  Magellan) ;  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh. 

Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  18  (1900:  Straits  of  Magellan) ;  Nicoll.  Ibis,  1904, 

p.  51  (Valparaiso,  abundant). 


FIG.  77. 


FIG.  78. 


Puffinus  griseus.  Profile  of  head.  From 
material  in  the  British  Museum.  ^  natural 
size. 


Puffinus  griseus.     Head  from  above. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum. 
^  natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESRIPTION. 

Size.     Ad^llt  Male. — Total  length,  about  18  inches. 

Wing,  12  inches. 

Tail,  central  rectrices,  3.5  inches  ;  lateral  rectrices,  2.7  inches. 


132  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Bill,  2.1  inches. 

Tarsus,  2.4  inches. 

Color.  Adult  Male. — General  color,  deep  sooty  brown,  darkest  on 
upper  parts,  wings  and  tail  are  of  a  general  lighter  shade  below. 

Head :  Entirely  deep  sooty  brown. 

Neck :  Deep  sooty  brown  above,  somewhat  lighter  below. 

Back:  Sooty  brown,  rather  lighter  than  the  head,  and  each  feather 
indistinctly  edged  with  paler  brown.  Lower  back  deeper  sooty  brown. 

Wings :  Like  the  back ;  the  quills  sooty  black. 

Tail :  Deep  sooty  brown. 

Lower  parts :  Sooty  brown  paler  than  the  prevailing  shade  above  and 
greyer  especially  on  the  throat.  Under  wing  coverts  greyish  white  with 
dark  shafts. 

Bill :  Horn  color,  often  lighter  at  the  tip. 

Legs  brown. 

Feet  brown. 

Iris  dark  hazel. 

The  sexes  are  similar  in  size  and  color. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans.  South  to  Australia 
and  to  the  Straits  of  Magellan.  Known  to  breed  in  the  Chatham  group 
of  Islands.  (Travers,  Trans.  New  Zeal.  Inst.  V.  p.  220). 

The  Grey  or  Sooty  Shearwater  was  not  secured  or  observed  by  the 
Princeton  Expeditions  to  Patagonia.  The  description  is  based  on  four 
individuals  in  the  Princeton  University  Ornithological  Collection  nos. 
8604  to  8607  inclusive,  taken  off  Cape  Cod,  Massachusetts  (20  miles  at 
sea),  1 6  August,  1881  ;  supplemented  by  the  series  of  these  birds  in  the 
British  Museum  of  Natural  History. 

The  only  record  respecting  the  nidification  of  this  bird  I  have  found 
(except  Mr.  Buller's  statement  that  its  egg  is  "  white,  stained  with  reddish 
brown,  and  measures  3.25  inches  in  length  by  2  inches  in  breadth")  is 
contained  in  the  following  notes  by  Mr.  Travers,  who  writes  (Trans.  N. 
Zeal.  Inst.  v.  p.  220),  that  it  is  "common  all  around  the  coasts  of  the 
Chatham  group.  It  burrows  a  horizontal  hole,  from  three  to  four  feet 
deep,  and  turning  slightly  to  the  right  or  left,  in  peaty  ground.  At  the 
extremity  of  this  hole  it  forms  a  rude  nest  composed  of  twigs  and  dead 


AVES PUFFINID/E.  133 

leaves.  Only  one  egg  is  laid ;  and  the  male  bird  assists  in  the  work  of 
incubation.  They  are  savage  whilst  on  the  nest,  biting  and  scratching 
those  who  molest  them.  The  young  bird  is  singularly  fat,  and  when 
taken  from  the  hole  disgorges  a  quantity  of  oily  matter  of  most  offensive 
smell.  This,  however,  is  esteemed  a  delicacy  by  the  Maoris,  who  hold 
the  young  birds  over  their  mouths,  allowing  the  substance  to  drain  into 
them.  The  old  birds  roost  on  shore,  the  noise  they  make  during  the 
whole  night  being  absolutely  frightful,  resembling  an  exaggerated  chorus 
of  squalling  children  and  love-making  cats,  in  which  the  performers  were 
numbered  by  thousands.  From  the  manner  in  which  this  noise  was 
intensified  on  each  fresh  arrival  I  could  only  conclude  that  the  whole  lot 
were  squalling  out  their  adventures  during  the  day.  When  taken  out  of 
their  holes  they  flutter  about  on  the  ground  for  some  time,  tumbling  over 
stumps  in  a  confused  manner,  but  ultimately  make  for  the  sea."  (H.  E. 
Dresser,  Bds.  Europe,  VIII.  p.  525,  1877.) 


Genus  PRIOFINUS  Hombron  &  Jacquinot. 

Type. 
Priofinus,   Hombr.   &  Jacq.    Compt.    Rend,    xviii.   p.    355 

(1844);  Jacq.  &   Puch.  Voy.    Pdle   Sud.  Zool.    iii.  p. 

145,  t.  32,  figs.  9-14  (1853);  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Sci. 

Philad.  1866,  p.  192  ;  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV. 

p.    390    (1896);    Sharpe,   Hand-List    Bds.    I.    p.    124 

(1899) P.  cinereus. 

Adamastor,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  ii.  p.  187  (1855);  Coues,  Proc. 

Acad.  Sci.  Philad.  1864,  p.  119 '  .     P.  cinereus. 

9 

Geographical  Range. — The  Southern  Oceans. 


PRIOFINUS  CINEREUS  (Gmelin). 

Cinereus  Fulmar,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  2,  p.  405  (1785). 

Procellaria  cineria,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  563  (1788). 

Puffinus  cinereus,  Gould,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p.   137  (1841:  Tierra  del 

Fuego :    Chiloe :    mouth  of    Plata :    Port    Famine) ;    Hartl.    Naum. 

1853,  p.  222  (Chile);  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  46  (1868); 


1 34  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Burm.  Ann.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  Part  X.  p.  248  (1888: 
Coast  of  Patagonia  and  Falkland  Islands). 

Procellaria  hcesitata,  Forst.  Descr.  Anim.  p.  208  (1844). 

Priofinus  cinereus,  Jacq.  &  Pucher,  Voy.  Pdle  Sud.  Zool.  III.  p.  145 
(1853);  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  390  (1896:  Off  Cape 
Horn,  May) ;  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  124  (1899) ;  Carbajal,  La 
Patagonia,  Part  II.  p.  277  (1900);  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sam- 
melr.  Vog.  P.  18  (1900);  Sharpe,  Rep.  Coll.  Nat.  Hist.  "Southern 
Cross,"  Aves,  p.  142  (1902). 

Adamastor  cmereus,  Scl.  &  Salv.  Voy.  Chall.  II.  Birds,  p.  142  (1881  : 
South  Pacific). 

FIG.  79.  FIG.  80. 


Priofinus  cinereus.    Profile  of  head.    From  Priofinus   cinereus.     Head    from   above, 

material  in  the  British  Museum.    ^  natural  From  material  in  the  British  Museum.      14 

natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Adult  Male.  —  Total  length,  about  19  inches. 

Wing,  13  inches. 

Tail,  central  rectrices,  4.4  inches ;  lateral  rectrices,  3.5  inches. 

Bill,  2.4  inches. 

Tarsus,  2.4  inches. 

Color.      Aditlt  Mz/<?.^  Upper   parts    uniform  cinereous;  lower   parts 
white. 

Head :  Crown  deep  cinereous,  shading  into  grey  on  the  sides  of  the 
head. 

Neck:  Above  cinereous  shading  into  paler  grey  on  the  sides,  which 
shade  into  and  blend  with  the  white  of  lower  neck  and  throat. 


AVES PUFFINID/E.  135 

Back :  Deep  cinereous  each  feather  having  dark  shafts ;  some  of  the 
feathers  with  indistinct  lighter  edging. 

Rump  concolor  with  back. 

Wing :  Deep  cinereous,  some  of  the  scapulars  and  tertials  with  indis- 
tinct edging  of  a  lighter  shade.  The  quills  are  grey. 

Tail :  Like  the  back  and  rump  in  color  and  a  little  darker  in  tone. 

Lower  parts  :  Generally  white  and  not  clearly  defined  from,  but  shading 
gradually  into,  the  grey  of  the  upper  parts.  The  under  wing  coverts  are 
grey.  Some  of  the  feathers  of  the  flanks  and  all  the  under  tail  coverts 
are  deep  cinereous. 

Bill :  "The  nasal  tubes,  and  culmen  as  far  as  the  unguis  are  black  ;  the 
unguis  is  paler  yellow"  (Coues). 

Tarsus  fleshy  brown. 

Feet :  Fleshy  brown,  the  webs  yellowish. 

Iris  hazel  brown. 

The  female  is  similar  to  the  male  in  size  and  color. 

Geographical  Range.  —  The  Southern  Oceans.  Kerguelen  Island. 
Coasts  of  New  Zealand,  Cape  Horn,  Coasts  of  Chile  and  Patagonia,  and 
the  Falkland  Islands. 

The  Cinereous  Shearwater  was  not  obtained  or  observed  by  the  natur- 
alists of  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to  Patagonia  It  is  however  one  of 
the  most  common  birds  off  the  coast  of  that  region. 

The  description  given  above  is  based  on  material  in  the  British  Museum 
of  Natural  History. 

"This  bird  frequents  the  seas  on  the  whole  coast  of  South  America. 
I  obtained  specimens  from  Tierra  del  Fuego,  Chiloe,  the  mouth  of  the 
Plata,  and  Callao  Bay  on  the  coast  of  Peru.  It  is  likewise  known  to  be 
common  in  the  Northern  Hemisphere ;  this  species,  therefore,  has  a  most 
extensive  range.  It  generally  frequents  the  retired  inland  sounds  in  very 
large  flocks ;  although,  occasionally,  two  or  three  may  be  seen  out  at  sea. 
I  do  not  think  I  ever  saw  so  many  birds  of  any  other  sort  together,  as  I 
once  saw  of  these  petrels,  behind  the  Island  of  Chiloe.  Hundreds  of 
thousands  flew  in  an  irregular  line,  for  several  hours  in  one  direction. 
When  part  of  the  flock  settled  on  the  water,  the  surface  was  blackened ; 
and  a  cackling  noise  proceeded  from  them,  as  of  human  beings  talking  in 


136  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

the  distance.  At  this  time,  the  water  was  in  parts  coloured  by  clouds 
of  small  Crustacea.  The  inhabitants  of  Chiloe  told  me  that  this  petrel 
was  very  irregular  in  its  movements  ;  sometimes  they  appeared  in  vast 
numbers,  and  the  next  day  not  one  was  to  be  seen.  At  Port  Famine, 
every  morning  and  evening,  a  long  band  of  these  birds  continued  to  fly 
with  extreme  rapidity,  up  and  down  the  central  parts  of  the  channel, 
close  to  the  surface  of  the  water.  Their  flight  was  direct  and  vigorous, 
and  they  seldom  glided  with  extended  wings  in  graceful  curves,  like  most 
other  members  of  this  family.  Occasionally,  they  settled  for  a  short 
time  on  the  water;  and  they  thus  remained  at  rest  during  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  middle  of  the  day.  When  flying  backwards  and  forwards, 
at  a  distance  from  the  shore,  they  evidently  were  fishing :  but  it  was  rare 
to  see  them  seize  prey.  They  are  very  wary,  and  seldom  approach 
within  gun-shot  of  a  boat  or  of  a  ship ;  a  disposition  strikingly  different 
from  that  of  most  of  the  other  species.  The  stomach  of  one,  killed  near 
Port  Famine,  was  distended  with  seven  prawn-like  crabs  and  a  small 
fish.  In  another,  killed  off  the  Plata,  there  was  the  beak  of  a  small  cuttle- 
fish. I  observed  that  these  birds,  when  only  slightly  winged,  were  quite 
incapable  of  diving.  There  is  no  difference  in  the  plumage  of  the  sexes. 
The  web  between  the  inner  toes,  with  the  exception  of  the  margin,  is 
'reddish-lilac-purple/  the  rest  being  blackish.  Legs  and  half  of  the 
lower  mandible  blackish  purple.  From  accounts  which  I  have  received, 
the  individuals  of  this  species,  which  live  in  the  Northern  Hemisphere, 
appear  to  have  exactly  the  same  habits  as  those  above  described." 
(Darwin,  in  Voy.  "Beagle,"  Gould,  II.  pp.  137-138.) 

Genus  THALASSCECA  Reichenbach. 

Type. 

Thalassceca,  Reichenb.  Natiirl.  Syst.  Vog.  p.  iv(i852); 

Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  392  (1896); 

Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  125  (1899) T.  antarctica. 

Thalassoica,  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Sci.  Philad.  1866,  p.  29 

(pt.)  =  ( Thalassceca]. 
^.ipetes,  Forbes,  Voy.   Chall.   Zool.  IV.   pt.    XI.    p.    59 

(1882) T.  antarctica. 

Geographical  Range. — The  Antarctic  Oceans. 


AVES PUFFINID^. 


137 


THALASSCECA  ANTARCTICA  (Gmelin). 

Antarctic  Petrel.  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  2,  p.  400  (1785). 

Procellaria  antarctica,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  565  ( 1 788) ;  Pelz.  Reis,  Novara, 
Vog.  p.  147  (1865:  Straits  of  Magellan). 

Thalassceca  antarctica,  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  149  (1873: 
Straits  of  Magellan);  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  392  (1896: 
Cape  Horn);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  125  (1899);  Martens, 
Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  19  (1900:  Falkland  Islands); 
Sharpe,  Rep.  Coll.  Nat.  Hist.  "Southern  Cross,"  Aves,  p.  143  (1902). 


FIG.  8 1. 


FIG.  82. 


Thalassceca  antarctica.  Profile  of  head. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum.  }£ 
natural  size. 


Thalassceca  antarctica.  Head  from  above. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum.  ^ 
natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Adult  male. — Total  length,  about  17  inches. 

Wing,  12  inches. 

Tail,  4.2  inches. 

Bill,  2.0  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.7  inch. 

Color.  Adult  male. — General  color  upper  parts  brown,  with  white 
areas ;  the  lower  parts  white  with  brown  areas. 

Head :  Brown,  shading  into  paler  on  the  sides. 

Neck:  Above  brown,  paler  on  the  sides.  Below,  throat  pale  brown, 
with  white  bases  to  the  feathers ;  lower  neck  white. 


138  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Back :  Brown,  except  the  upper  tail  coverts  which  are  white,  the  cen- 
tral ones  having  brown  tips. 

Wing :  Brown.  The  longer  wing  coverts  white.  Exposed  portion  of 
quills  brown,  the  shafts  and  inner  webs  white  nearly  to  the  tips.  Inner 
secondaries  wholly  white. 

Tail :  White,  each  feather  tipped  with  brown. 

Lower  parts :  White,  except  the  throat  which  is  pale  brown,  the  feath- 
ers having  white  bases. 

Under  wing  coverts  and  axillary  feathers  white. 

Bill  dusky  brown  color. 

Tarsus  yellowish  brown. 

Feet  like  the  tarsi,  the  outer  toe  browner. 

The  female  resembles  the  male  in  size  and  color. 

Geographical  Range. — The  Antarctic  Ocean. 

The  description  is  based  on  material  in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural 
History.  The  birds  were  not  obtained  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions. 

"  Thalassoica  antarctica  is  about  as  common,  or  uncommon,  as  the 
preceding  species  (Fulmarus  glacialoides]  and  is  also  comparatively  easy 
to  capture.  As  a  rule  both  these  species  keep  farther  from  ships  than  the 
abundant  and  tame  Cape  Pigeon  (Daption  capensis}.  Of  the  species 
herein  noted,  Thalassoica  antarctica  appears  to  be  the  most  exclusively 
southern  in  its  range.  Going  southwards  Daption  made  its  appearance 
May  1 6,  Fulmarus  May  20,  and  Thalassoica  not  until  June  21."  (Lucas, 
Auk,  IV.  p.  4,  1887.) 


Genus  PRIOCELLA  Hombron  &  Jacquinot. 

Type. 

Priocella,  Hombr.  &  Jacq.  Compt.  Rend.  XVIII.  p.  357 
(1844);  Jacq.  &  Puch.  Voy.  P61e  Sud,  Zool.  iii.  p. 
148,  t.  32,  figs.  43-56  (1853);  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds. 
Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  395  (1896) ;  Sharpe,  Hand-List 
Bds.,  I.  p.  125  (1899) P.  glacialoides. 

Thalassoica,  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Sci.  Philad.  1866,  p.  29 
(Pt). 


AVES PUFFINID^E.  139 

Geographical  Range. — Antarctic  and  Southern  Oceans;  north  on  the 
West  Coast  of  America  to  the  Coast  of  Washington. 

PRIOCELLA  GLACIALOIDES  (Smith). 

Procellaria  glacialoides,  var.  B.  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  562  (1788). 
Procellaria  glacialoides,  A.  Smith,  Illust.  of  Zool.  of  S.  Africa,  Aves,  pi. 

51,   (1840);  Gould,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p.    140  (1841:   Bay  of  St. 

Mathias) ;  Gray,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  Part  III,  p.  162  (1844:  Straits  of 

Magellan);  id.  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  648  (1844);  Hartl.  Naum.   1853,  p. 

222  (Chile) ;  Pelz.  Reis.  Novara,  Vog.  p.  146  (1865  :  Chile  &  Straits 

of  Magellan). 
Priocella  garnoti,  Homb.  &Jacq.  Voy.  P61e  Sud,  III.  p.  148,  pi.  32,  figs. 

43-56  (1844). 

Procellaria  garnoti,  Gray,  Gen.  Bds.  III.  p.  648  (1844). 
Thalassozca  glacialoides,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  II.  p.  191  (1855);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S. 

1867,  p.  336  (Chile);  Gigl.  Faun.  Vert.  Oceano,  p.  47  (1870);  Scl. 

&  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  149  (1873);  James,  New  List  Chil. 

B.  p.  13  (1892). 
Procellaria  smithi,   Schl.   Mus.   Pays  Bas,   Procell.   p.   22   (1863:    Cape 

Horn  :  Coast  of  Chile). 
Fulmants  glacialoides,  Gray,  Hand-List  Bds.  III.   p.   105,    no.    10877 

(1871);  Cunningh.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.  p.  223  (1871);  Vincig. 
.  Boll.  Soc.  Geogr.  Ital.  (2)  IX.  p.  799  (1884). 
Thalassceca  tenuirostris,  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  n  (Valparaiso,  Aug.) ; 

Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  162,  332  (1891). 
Procellaria  tenuirostris,   Burm.    (nee  Temrri.) ;    An.    Mus.   Nac.    Buenos 

Aires,  III.  Part  X.  p.  248  (1888:  Coast  of  Central  Patagonia). 
Priocella  glacialoides,  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  393  (1896); 

Schalow,    Zool.   Jahb.   Suppl.  IV.  p.  654  (1898:  Cavanche,  July); 

Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  125  (1899);  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov. 

(2)  XX.  p.  628  (1900 ;  at  sea,  north  of  Rio  Gallegos,  April) ;  Martens, 

Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  18  (1900:  Cape  Horn);  Sharpe, 

Rep.  Coll.  Nat.  Hist.  "Southern  Cross,"  Aves,  p.  145  (1902). 
Thalassidea  glacialoides,  Carbajal,  La  Patagonia,  Part  II.  p.  277  (1900). 


140 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Adult  Male. — Total  length,  about  18  inches. 
Wing,  12.5  to  13  inches. 

Tail,  central  rectrices,  5.1  inches;  lateral  rectrices,  4.15  inches. 
Bill,  2.1  inches. 
Tarsus,  1.8  inch. 

Color.     Adult  Male.  —  General   color  above   clear  pearl  grey,  below 
white.     The  pearl  grey  shading  into  the  white  without  abrupt  demarcation. 

FIG.  83.  FIG.  84. 


Prioctlla  glacialoides.  Profile  of  head. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum.  l/2 
natural  size. 


Priocella  glacialoides.  Head  from  above. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum.  ^ 
natural  size. 


Head  :  Top  of  head  and  crown  pale  pearl  grey,  lighter  than  on  the 
back.  Forehead  white,  grey  of  top  of  head  shading  into  white  on  the 
sides  of  face  and  cheeks.  A  dusky  spot  in  front  of  the  eye. 

Neck:  Above  pale  pearl  grey  like  the  crown  shading  into  white  on  the 
sides.  Lower  neck,  throat  and  chin  white. 

Back :  Uniform  pearl  grey,  of  a  darker  shade  than  on  the  crown  and 
upper  neck.  Upper  tail  coverts  like  back. 

Wing :  Upper  coverts,  pearl  grey.  Primaries,  exposed  portion  greyish 
black,  the  exposed  portion  of  the  shafts  black :  concealed  portion  yellow- 
ish white  at  the  base.  The  inner  webs  are  pearly  white  nearly  to  the  tip 
of  each  feather.  Secondaries,  slaty  black  on  their  outer  webs  and  white 
on  their  inner  webs.  Tertials,  pearl  grey  like  the  back.  Feathers  of  the 
edge  of  the  wing  greyish  slate. 


AVES PUFFINID^E. 

Tail :  Pearl  grey,  like  the  back.  Under  parts,  pure  white,  shaded  on 
the  sides  and  flanks  with  pale  pearl  grey. 

Bill :  Yellow,  with  the  tip,  the  middle  of  the  culmen,  the  nasal  covers 
and  bases  of  the  maxillae  dusky  brown  or  black. 

Tarsi :  Flesh  color,  darkest  externally. 

Feet :  Flesh  color,  the  outer  toe  darker  in  tone ;  webs  yellowish  flesh 
color. 

"Male:  Valparaiso,  August  4.  1879.  Legs  gray,  with  blue  stains; 
bill  grey,  with  blue  patches."  (Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  11.) 

The  sexes  are  alike  in  size  and  color. 

Geographical  Range.  — Southern  and  Antarctic  Oceans  generally.  The 
entire  Pacific  Coast  of  America  north  to  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  River. 
Cape  Horn.  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 

This  petrel,  which  is  colored  like  many  gulls,  was  not  obtained  by  the 
Princeton  Expeditions  to  Patagonia.  As  may  be  inferred  from  the  geo- 
graphical range  given  above,  the  birds  have  been  recorded  from  the  Straits 
of  Magellan,  and  points  off  the  Patagonian  Coast.  The  material  on 
which  the  description  is  based,  is  a  large  series  in  the  British  Museum  of 
Natural  History,  representing  the  species  from  most  points  where  it  is 
known  to  occur. 

"I  saw  this  petrel  on  both  sides  of  the  Continent  south  of  lat.  30° ;  but 
seldom  more  than  two  or  three  together.  I  am  informed  that  it  arrives 
in  Georgia  in  September  for  the  purpose  of  breeding,  and  that  it  lays  its 
eggs  in  holes  in  the  precipices  overhanging  the  sea.  On  the  approach  of 
winter  it  is  said  to  retire  from  that  island.  My  specimen  was  caught  in 
the  Bay  of  St.  Mathias  (lat.  43°  S.)  by  a  line  and  bent  pin,  baited  with 
a  small  piece  of  pork;  the  same  means  by  which  the  Pintado  (Dapt. 
Capensis]  is  so  easily  caught.  It  is  a  tame,  sociable,  and  silent  bird ;  and 
often  settles  on  the  water :  when  thus  resting  it  might  from  a  distance  be 
mistaken,  owing  to  the  general  colour  of  its  plumage,  for  a  gull.  One 
often  approached  close  to  the  stern  of  the  Beagle,  and  mingled  with  the 
Pintados,  the  constant  attendants  on  vessels  traversing  these  southern 
seas."  Darwin,  Voy.  "Beagle,"  Birds,  p.  140). 


142  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

Genus  MAJAQUEUS  Reichenbach. 

Type. 

Majaqueus,  Reichenb.  Natiirl.  Syst.  Vog.  p.  iv  (1852) ; 

Coues,  Proc.  Acad.    Sci.    Philad.    1864,  p.    117; 

Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV,  p.  395  (1896); 

Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  125  (1889). 
Cymatobulus,  Reichen.  in  Heine  &  Reichenow,  Nom- 

encl.  Mus.  Hein.  p.  363  (1890) M.  czquinoctialis. 

Geographical  Range.  — Southern  Oceans. 

MAJAQUEUS  ^QUINOCTIALIS  (Linnaeus). 

Great  Black  Peteril,  Edwards,  Nat.  Hist.  Bds.  II.  pi.  89  (1746). 

Procellaria  cequinoctialis,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  132  (1758). 

Majaqueus  cequinoctialis,  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  47  (1868)  ; 

Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  12  (Valparaiso,  Aug.);  James,  New  List 

Chil.  Bds.  p.  13  (1892);  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  395 

(1896:  Valparaiso:  Coquimbo) ;  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p. 

654  (1898:  Cavancha) ;  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.    125  (1899); 

Carbajal,  La  Patagonia,  Part   II.  p.  277   (1900)  ;    Martens,   Hamb. 

Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  18  (1900);  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit. 

Mus.  I.  p.   156  (1901);    Sharpe,  Rep.  Coll.  Nat.  Hist.  "Southern 

Cross,"  Aves,  p.  146  (1902). 
Procellaria    (Majaqueus]    czquinoctialis,     Oust.     Miss.    Sci.     Cap    Horn, 

Oiseaux,   pp.    161,    332    (1891:    Ponsonby    Bay;    Coast    of  Chile; 

Straits  of  Magellan;  Falkland  Islands). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Adult  Male. — Total  length,  about  20  inches. 
Wing,  15  inches. 

Tail,  central  rectrices,  5.3  inches ;  lateral  rectrices,  4.5  inches. 
Bill,  2.6  inches. 
Tarsus,  2.6  inches. 

Color.     Adult  Male. — General  color  throughout  sooty   black,  with  a 
white  triangular  area  on  the  chin. 


AVES PUFFINID^E. 


"  Bill  yellowish  horn-colour  with  the  spaces  between  the  various  portions 
of  the  sheath  of  both  mandible  and  maxilla  black.  Feet  black."  (Salvin, 
t.  c.). 

"Male:  Valparaiso,  August  1879.  Eyes  dark  brown;  bill  grey  and 
black;  legs  black."  (Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  12.) 


FIG.  85. 


FIG.  86. 


Majaquens  equinoctialis.  Profile  of  head. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum.  % 
natural  size. 


Majaqueus     equinoctialis. 
above.      From    material    in 
Museum,      i    natural  size. 


Head     from 
the     British 


"The  amount  of  white  on  the  chin  varies  very  much  in  different  indi- 
viduals. Some  have  an  irregular  white  stripe  running  from  near  the  base 
of  the  mandible  under  the  eye  almost  to  the  nape,  and  a  transverse  band 
across  the  forehead  in  front  of  the  eye.  Upon  such  specimens  Gould 


FIG.  8;. 


FIG.  88. 


Majaqueus  equinoctialis.  Profile  of  head. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum.  i^ 
natural  size. 


Majaqueus  equinoctialis.  Head  from 
above.  From  material  in  the  British 
Museum.  natural  size. 


founded  his  M.  conspicellatus,  a  form  recognized  by  Dr.  Coues  as  distinct, 
but  apparently  connected  with  the  typical  form  by  every  degree  of 
variation."  (Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  396  (1896)). 


144  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 

"The  white  spots  on  the  throat  and  cheeks  appear  to  vary  much  with 
age.  In  the  perfectly  adult  bird  the  triangular  gular  spot  is  alone  left ; 
that  on  the  cheeks,  which  is  connected  with  it  in  immature  birds,  having 
disappeared.  Very  young  birds  have  the  under  parts  almost  wholly 
whitish,  which  afterward  deepen  into  fuliginosus."  (Coues,  Proc.  Acad. 
Sci.  Philad.  1864,  p.  118.) 

Geographical  Range.  —  Southern  Oceans,  north  to  about  latitude  30° 
south. 

This  petrel  was  not  obtained  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to  Pata- 
gonia. The  material  examined  to  form  a  basis  for  the  description  given 
is  in  the  Collection  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia, 
and  a  large  series  in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History. 

The  birds  have  been  collected  and  observed  in  the  Straits  of  Magellan 
and  at  points  off  the  Patagonian  Coast. 

The  Great  Black  Petrel  breeds  in  numbers  at  Kerguelen  Island  in 
December,  and  the  following  observations  of  its  habits  at  that  season  are 
of  interest : 

"Nests  in  very  deep  burrows  in  hill-sides,  generally  under  a  mound 
of  herbage.  Near  the  entrance  to  the  burrow,  there  is  always,  so  far  as 
observed,  a  small  pool  of  fresh  water.  Egg  is  single,  regularly  ovoid, 
and  white,  without  shell-markings  of  any  kind.  It  is  generally,  however, 
much  soiled  by  secretions  from  the  oviduct  and  dirt  from  the  burrow. 
The  shell  is  thin,  homogeneous,  and  compact  in  structure,  very  smooth  to 
the  touch,  but  under  the  lens  is  seen  to  be  marked  by  small  pits  and 
shallow  linear  depressions."  (Natural  History  of  Kerguelen  Island,  J.  H. 
Kidder,  M.  D.,  Bull.  no.  3,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  p.  13,  1876.) 

Genus  PAGODROMA  Bonaparte. 

Type. 

Pagodroma,  Bonap.  Consp.  Av.  ii.  p.  192  (1855);  Coues,  Proc. 
Acad.  Sci.  Philad.  1866,  p.  159;  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus. 
XXV.  p.  419  (1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  127 
(1899) P.  nivea. 

Geographical  Range.  — Antarctic  Seas. 


AVES PUFFINIDyE. 


PAGODROMA  NIVEA  (Gmelin). 

Snowy  Petrel,   Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  2,  p.  408  (1785). 

Procellaria  nivea,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  408  (1788). 

Pagodroma  nivea,  Oust.   Miss.   Sci.   Cap    Horn,   Oiseaux,   pp.   307,  332 

(1891);  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  419  (1896:  Falkland 

Islands);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.   127  (1899);  Martens,  Hamb. 

Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  19  (1900:  Falkland  Islands) ;  Gates,  Cat. 

Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.   I.  p.  233  (1901)  ;    Sharpe,  Rep.  Coll.  Nat. 

Hist.  "Southern  Cross,"  Aves,  p.  148,  pi.  X.  fig.  1-3  (1902). 

FIG.  89.  FIG.  90. 


MSor'iii.Yw&m 

$-;*4w 

fl.V,  •'"  ^ 

Vl1'!1'     ' 
.1 1 1 .    i 

1(1'     ,         ,l" 

IU1  \  ,   u-iX 


i:  M 


Pagodroma  nivea.  Profile  of  head.  From 
material  in  the  British  Museum.  Natural 
size. 


Pagodroma  nivea.  Head  from  above. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum. 
Natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Adult.  — Total  length,  14  to  16  inches. 
Wing,  9.8  to   1 1. 1  inches. 
Tail,  4.3  to  5.1  inches. 
Bill,  1.4  to  1.55  inch. 
Tarsus,  1.3  to  1.5  inch. 

Color.     Adult.  —  Pure  white  throughout.     Bill  black, 
yellowish. 


Tarsi  and  feet 


1 46  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 

Geographical  Range. — Antarctic  Seas.     Falkland  Islands. 

The  Snowy  Petrel  was  not  obtained  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to 
Patagonia.  The  material  in  the  Collection  of  the  Academy  of  Natural 
Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  and  also  of  the  British  Museum  of  Natural 
History  forms  the  basis  of  the  description. 

The  species  presents  a  great  scale  of  individual  variation  in  size,  that 
apparently  does  not  correlate  with  sex  or  age.  Dr.  Coues  writing  of  this 
feature  says:  "Independently  of  differences  in  absolute  size  of  body,  the 
species  presents  unending  variations  in  size,  and,  to  some  degree,  in 
shape  of  the  bill.  Specimens  differ  in  this  respect  by  as  much  as  a  fourth 
of  the  whole  length  of  the  bill,  which  may  be  quite  unaccompanied  by 
corresponding  differences  as  to  depth  or  width.  The  length  of  the  nasal 
tubes,  and  the  amount  of  turgidity,  and  obliquity  of  truncation  vary 
greatly.  Differences  in  the  depth  and  robustness  of  the  bill  are  surpris- 
ingly great. 

"I  have  never  seen,  of  many  specimens,  any  which  were  referable 
specifically  from  the  typical  form.  But  some  individuals  are  so  strikingly 
small,  that  were  it  not  for  intermediate  sizes,  they  might  readily  be  sup- 
posed distinct.  Upon  this  character  a  variety  minor  was  founded  by 
Bonaparte,  which  has  been  adopted  by  so  accurate  and  cautious  an  orni- 
thologist as  Dr.  Schlegel  "  (Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.  1866,  pp. 
160-161). 

"As  we  neared  the  edge  of  the  pack  ice  a  petrel  which  we  had  not 
seen  at  the  islands  we  had  left  became  common  (T.  glacialoides],  and  as 
soon  as  we  reached  the  ice  we  fell  in  with  the  beautiful  snow-white  petrel 
(Pagodroma  nivea),  which  is  never  to  be  found  far  from  the  antarctic  ice. 
The  bird  flies  very  much  like  the  Whale  Bird  (Prion);  it  settles  on  the 
water  to  feed ;  it  remains  on  the  wing  late  at  night  when  the  other  birds 
have  disappeared.  I  have  seen  birds  flying  about  the  ship  as  late  as  1 1 
o'clock  at  night,  when  it  was  quite  dusk."  Mosley's  Notes,  Nat.  "Chal- 
lenger," p.  253  (1879). 

The  eggs  of  this  petrel  were  obtained  in  numbers  at  the  Duke  of  York 
Island,  Antarctic  Ocean,  by  the  "Southern  Cross"  Expedition. 


AVES PUFFINID^E. 

Subfamily  FULMARIN^;. 

Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  422  (1896);    Sharpe,  Hand-List 
Bds.  I.  p.  127  (1899). 

Genus  OSSIFRAGA  Hombron  &  Jacquinot. 

Type. 
Ossifraga,  Hombron  &  Jacquinot,  Compt.  Rend,  xviii.  p. 

356  (1844);  Jacq.  &  Puch.  Voy.  Pdle  Sud.  Zool.  iii.  p. 
148,  pi.  32,  figs.  39-42  (1853);  Bonap.  Consp.  Av.  II. 
p.  186  (1855);  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Sci.  Philad.  1866,  p. 
31;  Forbes,  Voy.  Chall.  Zool.  IV.  pt.  XI.  p.  42,  etc. 
(1882);  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  422 
(1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  127  (1899)  •  •  O.  gigantea. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Southern  Oceans,  north  to  30°  south  latitude. 

OSSIFRAGA  GIGANTEA  (Gmelin). 

Quebrantahuesos,  Bougainv.  Voy.  Autour  du  monde,  p.  63  (Tierra  del 

Fuego:  Falkland  Islands). 
Giant  Petrel,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  2,  p.  396,  pi.  100  (1785:  Staaten 

Island). 

Mouton,  Pernetty,  Voy.  I.  p.  15,  pi.  VIII,  fig.  3. 
Procellaria  gigantea,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  563  (1788:  ex  Lath.);  King, 

Zool.  Journ.  IV.  p.  104   (1829:  Straits  of  Magellan);  Darw.   Voy. 

Beagle,  Birds,  p.   139  (1841:    Port  San  Antonio:  Port  St.  Julian: 

Sea  Lion  Island:  Mouth  of  Santa  Cruz:  Port  Famine);  Des  Murs 

in  Gay's  Hist  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  475  (1847);  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p. 

164  (Falkland  Islands);  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  46  (1868); 

Burm.   An.   Mus.   Nac.   Buenos  Aires,   III.   Part  X.  p.  248  (1888: 

Straits  of  Magellan). 
Ossifraga  gigantea,  Jacq.  &  Puch.  Voy.  P61e  Sud.  Zool.  iii.  p.  139  (1853) ; 

Sci.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  149  (1873:  Falkland  Islands); 

Sharpe,    P.    Z.    S.    1881,    p.    n   (Tom   Bay,    Straits   of  Magellan, 

April);  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1883,  p.  431  (Coquimbo  Bay,  Nov.);  Vincig. 

Boll.  Soc.  Geogr.  Ital.  (2)  IX.  p.  799  (1884);  Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap 

Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  158,  332  (1891  :  Straits  of  Magellan  :  Patagonia: 


148 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS'.     ZOOLOGY. 


Falkland  Islands) ;  James,  New  List  Chil.  Bds.  p.  13  (1892) ;  Salvin, 
Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  422  (1896);  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb. 
Suppl.  IV.  p.  654  (1898  :  Coquimbo,  Nov.) ;  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds. 
I.  p.  127  (1899);  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX.  p.  628  (1900: 
Lat.  47°  19'  S. :  Long.  64°  50'  W.,  Jan.:  Port  Cook,  March);  Car- 
bajal,  La  Patagonia,  Part  II.  p.  277  (1900) ;  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh. 
Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  19  (1900);  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I. 
p.  158  (1901);  Sharpe,  Rep.  Coll.  Nat.  Hist.  "Southern  Cross," 
Aves,  p.  153  (1902) ;  Nicoll,  Ibis,  1904,  p.  52  ;  Vallentin,  Mem.  Man- 
chester Soc.  48,  No.  23,  p.  31  (1904:  Falkland  Islands). 


FIG.  91. 


FIG.  92. 


^  ^     \ 


Ossifraga  gigantea.    Profile  of  head.    From  material 
in  the  British  Museum.      ^  natural  size. 


Ossifraga  gigantea.  Head  from 
above.  From  material  in  the  British 
Museum.  ^  natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Adult  Male. — Total  length,  about  34  inches. 

Wing,  about  20  inches. 

Spread  of  extended  wings,  tip  to  tip,  about  84  inches. 

Tail :  Central  rectrices,  7  inches ;  lateral  rectrices,  5.8  inches. 

Bill,  4.2  inches. 

Tarsus,  3.6  inches. 


AVES PUFFINID^E.  149 

Color.  Adult  Male. — Uniform  dark  chocolate  brown  throughout;  the 
edges  of  all  the  feathers  a  little  paler  than  the  other  portion. 

Bill  yellow. 

Tarsi  black. 

Feet  black. 

"Male:  Tom  Bay,  April  13,  1879.  Bill  light  grey;  iris  dark  brown ; 
eyelids  black ;  legs  and  feet  dark  grey."  (Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  pp. 
11-12.) 

Young  and  immature  birds  are  lighter  brown,  more  or  less  mottled 
with  dull  white  and  white  about  the  head ;  the  edges  and  tips  of  many 
of  the  dark  feathers  are  also  dull  white.  The  under  parts  vary  from  almost 
pure  white  to  a  condition  of  color  approaching  the  adult.  Nearly  white 
individuals  are  occasionally  met  with. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Southern  Oceans,  north  regularly  to  30°  South 
Latitude.  Casually  on  the  Pacific  coast  of  North  America  to  Oregon. 

The  Giant  Fulmar  was  not  obtained  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to 
Patagonia.  The  material  examined  as  a  basis  for  the  above  description 
is  in  the  Collections  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia, 
and  in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History. 

"  Lays  a  single  egg  on  open,  rather  elevated  ground,  at  some  distance 
(half  a  mile)  from  the  sea.  There  was  no  vestige  of  an  artificial  nest 
when  the  young  were  found,  January  2.  These  were  then  nearly  fledged, 
and  quite  as  large  and  heavy  as  the  adults,  occupying  natural  hollows 
between  mounds  of  Azorella.  They  are  exceedingly  filthy  birds,  ejecting 
the  contents  of  their  stomachs  for  two  or  three  feet  from  their  bodies,  and 
seeming  to  have  a  limitless  supply  to  draw  upon.  When  disturbed,  they 
are  soon  surrounded  by  a  puddle  of  vomited  matters,  and  are,  in  this 
condition,  by  no  means  pleasant  birds  to  collect.  Among  the  ejecta  were 
noticed  many  Penguin  feathers.  In  the  same  neighborhood  was  a  young 
bird  of  an  earlier  brood,  fully  fledged,  but  not  yet  able  to  fly.  These 
Petrels  must  therefore  be  among  the  earliest  in  laying.  The  down  of  the 
young  bird  is  entirely  grey  in  color,  the  head  is  partly  naked,  and  the 
bill,  tarsi,  and  feet  are  colored  nearly  as  in  the  adult,  but  somewhat  paler. 
The  first  fully  formed  feathers  are  similar  to  the  adult  plumage." 


150  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS!     ZOOLOGY. 

(Natural  History  of  Kerguelen  Island,  J.  H.  Kidder,  M.D.,  Bull.  no.  3, 
U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  p.  13,  1876.) 

In  his  notes  on  the  Falkland  Islands  Mr.  R.  Vallentin  writes:  "only 
a  visitor,  being  invariably  driven  into  the  numerous  fiords  and  harbours 
by  stress  of  weather.  I  have  frequently  seen  two  or  three  of  these  birds 
flying  in  Stanley  harbour  when  there  was  a  strong  wind  blowing.  Occa- 
sionally, one  bird,  bolder  than  its  companions,  would  rest  on  the  water 
near  the  slaughter-house,  and  eagerly  devour  the  refuse.  But  even  then 
the  bird  would  not  allow  one  to  get  within  fifty  yards  of  it,  so  I  was  never 
able  to  examine  it  closely.  I  have  never  heard  of  this  species  nesting  on 
these  islands." 

Genus  DAPTION  Stephens. 

Type.  ' 

Daption,  Steph.  in  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  XIII.  p.  239  (1826) ; 
Bp.  Consp.  Av.  II.  p.  1 88  (1855);  Coues,  Proc.  Acad. 
Sci.  Philad.  1866,  p.  162  ;  Forbes,  Voy.  Chall.  Zool.  iv. 
pt.  XI.  p.  42,  &c  (1882) ;  Shufeldt,  Pro.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus. 
VII.  p.  378  (1887)  ;  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV. 
.  p.  428,  (1896) ;  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  127  (1899)  D.  capensis. 

Geographical  Range.  — Southern  Oceans. 

DAPTION  CAPENSIS  (Linnaeus). 

Procellaria  capensis,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  132  (1758);  King,  Zool.  Journ. 

IV.  p.  104  (1829:  Straits  of  Magellan) ;  Pelz.  Reis.  Novara.  Vog.  p. 

146  (1865:  Valparaiso  and  Cape  Horn). 
Pintado  Petrel,  Forst.  Voy.  I.  p.  489  (Falkland  Islands) ;  Lath.  Gen.  Syn. 

III.  pt.  2,  p.  403  (1785:  ex  Forst.). 

Le  Petrel  blanc  et  noir  ou  Damier,  Pernet.  Voy.  II.  p.  72. 
Daption  capensis,  Hartl.  Naum.  1853,  p.  222  (Valdivia) ;  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S. 

1 88 1,  p.  12  (Tres  Montes,  May:  St.  Ambrose,  July);  Vincig.  Boll. 

Soc.  Geogr.  Ital.  (2)  IX.  p.  799  (1884);  Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap  Horn, 

Oiseaux,  pp.   159,  332  (1891:  Straits  of  Magellan,  Oct.:  Coast  of 

Patagonia,  Sept.) ;  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  428  (1896) ; 

Sharpe,   Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  127  (1899);  Carbajal,  La  Patagonia, 

Part  II.  p.  277  (1900);  Martins,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p. 

19  (1900:  Straits  of  Magellan) ;  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I. 


AVES PUFFINID/E.  151 

p.   159   (1901);   Sharpe,  Rep.  Coll.  Nat.  Hist.  "Southern  Cross," 
Aves,  p.  156  (1902). 

Daption  capense,  Cunningh.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.  p.  223  (1871) ;  Salvad. 
Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX,  p.  628  (1900:  at  sea  north  of  Gallegos, 
April). 

FIG-  93-  FIG.  94. 


V 

Daption  capensis.    Profile  of  head.    From  Daption  capensis.      Head    from   above, 

material  in  the  British  Museum.    y2  natural  From  material  in  the  British  Museum.     ^ 

size.  natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Adtilt  Male. — Total  length,  about  16  inches. 

Wing,  10.5  inches. 

Tail,  3.9  inches. 

Bill,  1.7  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.9  inches. 

Color.  Adult  Male. — General  color  above;  head  and  neck  dusky 
black,  back  and  wings  white  and  black.  Below  white,  with  dusky  neck 
and  some  dusky  tips  to  the  feathers  on  sides  of  breast. 

Head  :  Dusky  black  throughout. 

Neck :  Dusky  black  above,  and  on  the  chin  and  throat  below.  Lower 
neck  white,  shading  on  the  sides  into  the  black  of  the  upper  neck. 

Back :  White,  each  feather  broadly  tipped  with  dusky  black. 

Wing:  Greater  coverts  white,  with  broad  dusky  black  tips,  lesser 
coverts  wholly  dusky.  The  greater  portion  of  the  scapulars  and  second- 
aries white.  The  primaries  outwardly  dusky  black,  with  the  inner  webs 
white  nearly  to  the  tips,  and  the  bases  of  the  outer  webs  of  all  the 
primaries  but  the  first,  white. 

Tail :  White,  with  a  broad  black  apical  margin  to  each  feather. 


152  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Under  parts  white,  except  the  upper  throat  and  chin  which  are  dusky 
black.  The  under  tail  coverts  and  some  feathers  on  the  sides  of  breast 
and  neck,  tipped  with  black. 

Bill  deep  black. 

Iris  brown. 

Legs  and  feet  black. 

"Male:  off  Tres  Montes,  May  10,  1879.  Iris  dark  brown;  bill  and 
legs  black;  eyelids  black;  male:  off  St.  Ambrose,  July  20,  1879.  Iris 
dark  grey."  (Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  12.) 

Geographical  Range. — Southern  Oceans  in  general,  north  to  Ceylon, 
and  regularly  to  latitude  5°  south  on  the  Pacific  Coast  of  America.  Cas- 
ually to  the  coast  of  California.  On  the  Atlantic  coast  of  America  north 
to  about  latitude  30°  south. 

The  Cape  Pigeon  was  not  obtained  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to 
Patagonia,  though  observed  generally  off  the  coast.  The  description  is 
based  on  material  in  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  the 
American  Museum  of  Natural  History  in  New  York,  and  in  the  British 
Museum. 

These  petrels  are  known  to  breed  on  Tristan  da  Cunha  (Moseley,  Notes 
Nat.  "Chall.,"  p.  134,  1879)  and  at  Heard  Island  the  same  naturalist 
found  the  Cape  Pigeons  breeding  in  holes  or  burrows,  in  low  basaltic 
cliffs,  February,  1874.  (Moseley,  op.  cit,  p.  229.) 

Darwin  writes  of  the  Cape  Pigeon :  "  This  petrel  is  extremely  numerous 
over  the  whole  southern  ocean,  south  of  the  Tropic  of  Capricorn.  On  the 
coast,  however,  of  Peru,  I  saw  them  in  lat.  from  16°  to  17°  S.,  which  is 
considerably  farther  north  than  they  are  found  on  the  shores  of  Brazil. 
Cook  in  sailing  south  in  the  meridian  of  New  Zealand,  first  met  this  bird 
in  lat.  43°3o'.  The  Pintados  slightly  differ  in  some  of  their  habits  from  the 
rest  of  their  congeners,  but,  perhaps,  approach  nearest  in  this  respect  to 
P.  glacialoides.  They  are  very  tame  and  sociable,  and  follow  vessels 
navigating  these  seas  for  many  days  together ;  when  the  ship  is  becalmed 
or  moving  slowly,  they  often  alight  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  in 
doing  this  they  expand  their  tails  like  a  fan.  I  think  they  always  take 
their  food  when  thus  swimming."  (Voy.  H.  M.  S.  "Beagle"  Birds,  II. 
Gould,  p.  140;  1841.) 


AVES PUFFINID/E.  153 

Northerly  from  Dungeness  Spit.  "Many  Cape  Pigeons  (Daption 
capense]  were  observed  flying  about  the  vessel,  and  swimming  in  the 
water  in  our  immediate  vicinity,  on  the  lookout  for  anything  in  the  shape 
of  food  that  might  be  thrown  overboard ;  and  these  beautiful  birds  were 
our  companions  during  the  greater  part  of  our  passage.  A  specimen  of 
a  larger  species  of  the  same  tribe,  with  ash-coloured  and  white  plumage, 
the  Fulmarus  glacialioides,  was  taken  on  a  line  put  out  astern  on  this 
day ;  and  I  preserved  the  skin  and  the  digestive  organs,  which  latter  I 
subsequently  compared  with  those  of  specimens  of  the  Cape  pigeon,  after- 
wards obtained,  with  the  following  results:  —  The  entire  length  of  the 
alimentary  canal  in  Fulmarus  glacialioides  I  found  to  be  85  inches,  and 
that  of  the  intestinal  tract,  taken  by  itself,  74.5  inches.  The  caeca  meas- 
ured three  lines  in  length,  and  were  situated  two  inches  above  the  anus. 
The  stomach  was  distinctly  divided  into  a  cardiac  and  a  pyloric  portion, 
separated  by  a  short  and  narrow  interval.  Of  these  portions,  the  cardiac 
division  possessed  a  comparatively  feeble  muscular  coat,  and  was  remark- 
ably glandular ;  while  the  pyloric,  of  a  somewhat  flattened  spheroidal  form, 
was  extremely  muscular.  The  former  I  found  distended  with  a  firm  mass 
of  semi-digested  ship-biscuit ;  while  the  latter  contained  the  two  mandibles 
of  a  small  Cephalopod.  In  the  Cape  Pigeon,  on  the  other  hand,  the 
length  of  the  entire  alimentary  canal  was  46  inches ;  that  of  the  intestinal 
tract  34.5  inches,  The  oesophagus  enlarged  much  more  abruptly  to  form 
the  cardiac  portion  of  the  stomach  than  was  the  case  in  the  Fulmar ;  and 
the  -muscular  coat  of  that  portion  was  considerably  thicker,  so  that  the 
gastric  glands  were  not  visible  through  it.  The  pyloric  division  was 
much  more  feebly  developed  than  in  the  Fulmar,  but  the  diameter  of  the 
intestinal  canal  was  considerably  greater  than  in  that  species.  The 
stomach  of  one  of  the  specimens  examined  contained  ship-biscuit,  and 
that  of  another  a  piece  of  pork-rind,  so  large  that  it  must  have  distended 
the  oesophagus  greatly  in  its  passage  downwards."  (Cunn.  Nat.  Hist.  Str. 
Magell.  1871,  pp.  223-224.) 

Genus  HALOB^NA  Is.  Geoffrey  Saint-Hilaire. 

Type. 

Halobcena,  Is.  Geoffr.  St.-Hilaire,  1836  fide  Bp.  Consp.  Av. 
ii.  p.  193  (1856) ;  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Sci.  Philad.,  1866, 
pp.  162-163;  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  431 
(1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  127  (1899).  .  .  H.  ccerulea. 


154  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

Zaprium,  Coues,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  no.  2,  p.  34  (1875).     H.  ccerulea. 

Geographical.  Range. — Southern  Oceans,  between  40°  and   60°  south 
Latitude. 

i.  .HALOB^ENA  OERULEA  (Gmelin). 

Blue  Petrel,  Forster,  Voy.  i.  p.  91  ;   Lath.  Gen.   Syn.  iii.   pt.  2,  p.   415 

(1785);  id.  Gen.  Hist.  Birds,  X.  p.  196  (1824). 
Another  Blue  Peteril,  Cook's  Voy.  i.  p.  32. 
Procellaria  cczrulea,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  i.  p.  560  (1788);  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  ii. 

p.  827  (1790);  Viell.  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  XXV.  p.  421  (1817)  ;  id. 

Enc.  Meth.  p.  81  (1823);  id.  Gal.  Ois.  ii.  p.  232  (1825) ;  Kuhl,  Beitr. 

p.   145  (1820);  Gray,  List  Anseres  Brit.  Mus.  p.   165   (1844);   id. 

Gen.  Birds,  iii.  p.  648  (1844);  id.  Ibis,    1862,  p.  247;  Gould,  Birds 

Austr.  VII.  pi.  52  (1847) ;  Peale>  U.  S.  Expl.  Exp.  viii.  p.  338  (1848); 

Layard,  Birds  S.  Afr.  p.  361  (1867);  id.  Ibis,  1876,  p.  393,  1878,  p. 

264;    Hutton,  Cat.  Birds  N.  Zeal.  p.  47  (1871);    Buller,  Birds  N. 

Zeal.  p.  306  (1873);  Finsch,  J.  f.  Orn.  1870,  p.  373,  1874,  p.  208; 

Finsch  &  Hartl.  Orn.  Centralpol.  p.  246  (1867). 
Pachyptila  ccerulea,  Illig.  Prodr.  p.  275  (1811);  Steph.  in  Shaw's  Gen. 

Zool.  xiii.  p.  252  (1826). 

Procellaria  forsteri,  Smith,  111.  Zool.  S.  Afr.  pi.  54  (1840). 
Procellaria  similis,  Forst.  Descr.  An.  p.  59  (1844). 
Halobcena  ccerulea,  Bp.  Compt.  Rend.  xlii.  p.  768  (1856);  id.  Consp.  Av. 

ii.  p.  193  (1856);  Coues,  Proc.  Ac.  Sci.  Philad.  1866,  pp.  163,  171; 

Gould,  Handb.  Birds  Austr.  ii.  p.  457  (1865) ;  Coues  &  Kidder,  Bull. 

U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  no.  2,  p.  34  (1875);  Kidder,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus. 

no.  3,  p.  17  (1876);  Moseley,  Notes  Nat.   "Chall."  p.  181  (1879); 

Sharpe,  Phil.  Trans,  clxviii.  extra  volume  p.  141  (1879)  ;  id.  Layards' 

Birds  S.  Afr.  p.  768  (1884);  Buller,  Birds  N.  Zeal.  ed.  2,  ii.  p.  214 

(1888);  id.  Tr.  N.  Zeal.  Inst.  XXV.  p.  78  (1893)  ;  Salvin,  Cat.  B. 

Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  431  (1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds  I.  p.  127 

(1899).    Oates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  160  (1901). 
Halobcena  typica,  Bp.  Compt.  Rend.  xlii.  p.  768  (1856);  id.  Consp.  Av. 

ii.  p.  194  (1856). 
Procellaria  velox,  Solander?  cf.  Salvin  in  Rowley's  Orn.  Misc.  i.  p.  238. 


AVES PUFFINID/E. 


155 


FIG.  95. 


FIG.  96. 


Halobana  ccerulea.     Profile  of  head.     From 
material  in  the  British  Museum.     Natural  size. 


Halobcena  carulea.  Head  from  above. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum. 
Natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Adult. — Total  length,  about  11  inches. 

Wing,  8.5  inches: 

Tail,  3.6  inches. 

Bill,  1.4  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.3  inches. 

Color.  Adult. — General  color  above,  clear  greyish  blue,  darkest  on 
the  crown,  the  nape,  scapulars  and  lesser  wing  coverts;  below  white, 
except  the  sides  of  the  breast  which  are  ashy  blue. 

Head  :  Rather  dark  greyish  blue.  The  middle  .feathers  of  the  forehead 
are  ashy  blue  broadly  tipped  with  white,  and  the  rest  of  the  forehead 
white.  There  is  a  suggestion  of  a  white  superciliary  streak  not  extending 
behind  the  eyes  however.  The  cheeks  and  auriculars  white. 

Neck :  Ashy  blue  above  and  pure  white  below. 

Back :  Clear  pale  ashy  blue. 

Wings :  Darker  ashy  blue,  the  scapulars  tipped  with  white ;  primaries, 
outer  webs  ashy  blue,  inner  webs  whitish. 

Tail  :  Outer  rectrix  white,  the  two  next  ashy  blue,  with  white  bases  to 
the  inner  webs,  the  three  next  ashy  blue  with  white  tips.  This  is  widest 


156  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

on  the  two  middle  feathers,  with  a  slightly  darker  subterminal  ashy  band. 
Tail  of  twelve  feathers,  and  square.  With  no  gradation  of  the  lateral 
rectrices. 

Lower  surface  pure  white  except  a  clouding  of  ashy  blue  on  the  sides 
of  the  breast. 

Legs  bluish. 

Feet :  Bluish  toes  and  flesh-colored  webs. 

"Younger  birds  may  be  known  by  a  less  decidedly  cinereous  or  bluish 
grey  tinge  of  the  upper  parts  ;  which  tend  more  or  less  strongly  towards 
brownish.  The  forehead  is  not  pure  white  but  mixed  with  about  an 
equal  amount  of  brownish  ash."  (Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Sci.  Philad.  1866, 
p.  164.) 


Geographical  Range. — Southern  Oceans.  [Pacific  Ocean  near  Cape 
Horn,  lat.  50°  South,  long.  90°  West,  May  20,  1840  (J.  Gould),  adult  skin, 
c,  Coll.  Brit.  Mus.] 


On  account  of  the  specimen  above  cited,  this  species  has  been  included 
as  one  of  the  petrels  properly  of  the  Patagonian  Coast.  Its  occurrence  in 
this  region  however  in  view  of  our  present  knowledge  must  be  regarded 
as  rare,  if  not  casual. 

The  Blue  Petrel  was  not  observed  by  any  of  the  members  of  the  Prince- 
ton Expeditions  to  Patagonia.  The  description  is  based  on  three  repre- 
sentatives of  the  species  in  the  Collections  of  the  British  Museum  of 
Natural  History. 

"Nests  in  deep  tortuous  burrows  in  hill  sides  near  the  sea.  Egg  is 
single,  ovoidal  and  dull' white,  without  color-markings.  In  the  specimens 
measured,  there  is,  however,  as  shown  by  the  figures,  the  usual  range  of 
variation  in  contour.  They  remind  one,  in  size  and  shape,  of  the  eggs 
of  a  bantam  hen.  Shell  is  thin,  homogeneous,  and  compact  in  structure, 
presenting  under  the  lens  a  finely  granular  external  surface.  First  found 
October  23."  (Natural  History  of  Kerguelen,  J.  H.  Kidder,  M.D.,  Bull. 
No.  3,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  p.  17,  1876.) 


AVES PUFFIN'IDvE.  157 

Genus  PRION  Lacepede. 

Type. 

Prion,  Lacepede,  Mem.  1'Inst.  III.  p.  513  (1801);  Bp.  Consp. 
Av.  II.  p.  192  (1856);  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Sci.  Philad. 
1866,  p.  167;  Forbes,  Voy.  "Chall.,"  Zool.  IV.  pt.  XL 
p.  42  (1882);  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  432 
(1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  128  (1899)  .  .  P.  vittatus. 

Pachyptila,  Illig.  Prodr.  p.  274  (1811) P.  vittatus. 

PriampJiits,  Rafinesque,  Anal.  p.  72  (1815),  fide  Bp. 

Pseudoprion,  Coues,  Proc.  Ac.  Sci.  Philad.  1866,-  p.  164  .     .  P.  desolatus. 

GeograpJiical  Range.  — Southern  Oceans. 

• 

PRION  VITTATUS  (Gmelin). 

Broad-billed  Petrel,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  2,  p.  432  (1785). 

Procellaria  vittata  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  560  (1788). 

Prion  vittatus  Darwin,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p.  141  (1841  :  Landfall  Island, 

west  coast  of  Tierra  del   Fuego,   breeds) ;    Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac. 

Buenos  Aires,   III.   part  X.   p.   248  (1888:   S.  Patagonia);  Salvin, 

Cat.  B.  Brit  Mus.  XXV.  p.  432  (1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I. 

p.  128  (1899) ;  Carbajal,  La  Patagonia,  Part  II.  p.  277  (1900) ;  Gates, 

Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  160  (1901). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Adult  Male. — Total  length,  about  12  inches. 

Wing:  7.6  inches. 

Tail :  Central  rectrices,  3.8  inches ;  lateral  rectrices,  3.5  inches. 

Bill,  1.5  inch. 

Tarsus,  1.3  inch. 

Color.  Adult  Male. — General  color  above,  light  greyish  or  plumbeous 
blue.  Lower  parts  in  general  white,  with  suffusion  of  greyish  blue  on 
the  sides  of  breast  and  flanks  and  mottling  of  the  same  color  but  a  darker 
shade,  on  the  under  tail  coverts. 

Head:  Top  of  the  head  and  sides  of  the  face  plumbeous  blue.  A 
white  superciliary  stripe.  The  region  about  the  eye  and  below  it  darker 
in  color,  almost  dusky. 


158 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 
FIG.  97. 


NV^  -WJBS 


Prion  mtlatus.     Profile  of  head.    From  material  in 
the  British  Museum.     Natural  size. 


FIG.  98. 


FIG.  99. 


Prion  vittatus.  Head  from  above. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum. 
Natural  size. 


Prion  mttatus.  Beak  from  be- 
neath. From  material  in  the 
British  Museum.  Natural  size. 


Neck :  Above  clear  plumbeous  blue  shading  into  paler  greyish  blue  on 
the  sides.  Beneath  including  throat  and  chin  pure  white. 

Back:  Clear  plumbeous  blue,  somewhat  paler  in  shade  than  on  the 
crown  and  crossed  by  a  dusky  or  black  band. 


AVES PUFFINID/E.  159 

Wings :  General  color  plumbeous  blue.  The  ends  of  the  longer  scapu- 
lars are  black  or  dusky,  with  white  tips;  the  smaller  wing-coverts,  the 
outer  vanes  on  the  first  four  primaries,  the  terminal  portion  of  the  tertials, 
black  or  plumbeous  black.  The  inner  vanes  of  the  quills  and  the  tips  of 
the  tertials  pearly  or  greyish  white. 

Tail :  Colored  like  the  back.  The  tips  of  the  central  rectrices  are 
broadly  dusky  or  black ;  the  lateral  rectrices  are  gray  with  black  shafts 
and  with  faint  dusky  tips. 

Lower  parts  white,  shaded  on  the  sides  of  the  breast  and  flanks  with 
pearly  grey.  The  under  tail  coverts  mottled  with  a  deeper  shade  of 
plumbeous  blue. 

Bill  blue  black. 

Tarsi  and  toes  light  blue. 

Eyes  dark  brown. 

In  shape  the  bill  is  very  wide,  with  the  edges  of  the  maxilla  distinctly 
convex.  The  complete  development  of  the  serrated  lamellce,  makes  them 
distinctly  visible  when  the  mouth  is  closed. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Southern  Oceans;  between  40°  to  60°  south 
latitude. 


The  Princeton  Expeditions  did  not  secure  the  Broad-billed  Petrel,  and 
the  -description  here  given  is  based  on  the  large  series  of  this  bird  in  the 
Collections  of  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History. 

This  species  of  Prion  has  been  long  known  to  breed  on  the  west  coast 
of  Tierra  del  Fuego,  at  Landfall  Island  (Darwin,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p. 
141,  1841),  and  has  also  been  taken  at  a  number  of  different  points  off 
the  coast  of  Patagonia. 

"I  did  not  procure  a  specimen  of  this  bird,  although  I  saw  numbers  on 
both  sides  of  the  Continent  from  about  lat.  35°  S.  to  Cape  Horn.  It  is  a 
wild  solitary  bird,  appears  always  to  be  on  the  wing :  flight  extremely 
rapid.  Mr.  Stokes  (Assistant  Surveyor  of  the  Beagle)  informs  me  that 
they  build  in  great  numbers  on  Landfall  Island,  on  the  west  coast  of 
Tierra  del  Fuego.  Their  burrows  are  about  a  yard  deep :  they  are  ex- 
cavated on  the  hill-sides,  at  a  distance  even  of  half  a  mile  from  the  sea 
shore.  If  a  person  stamps  on  the  ground  over  their  nests,  many  fly  out 


l6o  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

of  the  same  hole.     Mr.  Stokes  says  the  eggs  are  white,  elongated,  and  of 
the  size  of  those  of  a  pigeon."     (Voy.  "Beagle,"  Gould,  II.  p.  141.) 


Family  PELECANOID^E. 

Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  437  (1896) ;  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds. 
I.  p.  128  (1899). 

Genus  PELECANOIDES  Lacepede. 

Type. 

Pelecanoides,  Lacepede,  Mem.  1'Inst.  iii.  p.  513  (1801); 
Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Sci.  Philad.  1886,  p.  188;  Forbes, 
Voy.  Chall.  Zool.  iv.  pt.  xi.  p.  42,  &c.  (1882);  Shu- 
feldt,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  X.  p.  380  (1887) ;  Salvin, 
Cat  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  437  (1896) ;  Sharpe,  Hand- 
List  Bds.,  i,  p.  128  (1899) P.  urinatrix. 

Haladroma,  Illig.  Prodr.  p.  273  (1811) ;  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  ii. 

p.  206  (1856) P.  urinatrix. 

Puffinuria,  Less.  Voy.  "Coquille,"  i.  p.  729,  pi.  46  (1826) ; 

id.  Traitd  d'Orn.  p.  614  (1831) P.  urinatrix. 

* 

Geographical  Range.  — Southern  Oceans. 

PELECANOIDES  URINATRIX  (Gmelin). 

Diving  Petrel,  Forst.  Voy.  I.  p.  189;  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  2,  p.  413 
(1785;  ex  Forst). 

Procellaria  urinatrix,  Gm.  Syst  Nat.  I.  p.  560  (1788). 

Pelecanoides  berardi,  Quoy.  &  Gaim.  Voy.  Uranie,  p.  135,  pi.  37  (1824: 
Darwin,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p.  138  (1841  :  Tierra  del  Fuego:  coast 
of  Patagonia  as  far  north  as  the  Chonos  Archipelago :  Port  Famine) ; 
Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1859,  p.  98  (Falkland  Island) ;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p. 
390  (loc.  cit):  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  164  (Berkeley  Sound,  Falkland 
Islands,  breeding) ;  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  Part 
X.  p.  248  (1888:  Tierra  del  Fuego:  Falkland  Islands);  Carbajal,  La 
Patagonia,  Part  II.  p.  277  (1900). 

? Halodroma  garnoti  (nee  Less.),  Schl.  Mus.  Pays  Bas,  VI.  Procell.  p.  37 
(1863:  Straits  Magellan). 


AVES PELECANOID^E. 


161 


Pelecanoides  garnoti  (nee  Less.),  Scl.  &  Salv.  Ibis,  1870,  p.  500  (Wood's 
Bay,  April  1869) ;  iid.  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  739  (Cove  Harbour,  Messier 
Channel) :  Salv.  Voy.  Chall.  II.  Birds,  p.  146  (1881  :  Cove  Harbour, 
Messier  Channel),  p.  151  (Falkland  Island,  eggs). 

Haladroma  berardi,  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  149  (1873: 
Falkland  Islands). 

Pelecanoides  urinatrix,  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  12  (Antonio  Isl.  Trinidad 
Channel,  Feb.:  Cockle  Cove,  Oct.);  Coppinger,  Cruize  of  the  'Alert' 
p.  106  (1883);  Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  167,  332, 
(1891  :  Orange  Bay  :  West  Patagonia) ;  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus. 


FIG.  100. 


FIG.  101. 


Pelecanoides  urinatrix.  Profile  of  head. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum. 
Natural  size. 


Pelecanoides  urinatrix.  Head  from 
above.  From  material  in  the  British 
Museum.  Natural  size. 


XXV,  p.  437  (1896):  Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  128  (1899); 
Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  20  (1900):  (Falkland 
Islands) ;  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  161  (1901) ;  Nicoll, 
Ibis,  1904,  p.  47  (Molineaux  Sound :  Straits  of  Magellan  and 
Smythe's  Channel,  abundant.) 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Ad^ilt  Male. — Total  length,  about  8  inches. 
Wing,  4.7  inches. 
Tail,  1.4  inch.    * 
Bill,  0.9  inch. 

Color.     Adtdt  Male. — General  color  above  shining  black,  below  pure 
white. 


1 62 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS!     ZOOLOGY. 


The  only  markings  above  diverging  from  black  are  on  the  scapulars. 
These  are  generally  black,  but  the  inner  ones  are  grey  on  their  inner 
webs  and  edged  with  white.  Below  the  white  is  practically  immaculate, 
there  being  a  slight  grey  shading  on  the  sides  of  the  neck,  and  an  almost 
imperceptible  shading  on  the  sides  of  the  breast  and  flanks. 

Bill  black. 

Tarsi  and  feet  black. 

Iris  dark  hazel. 

Geographical  Range. — Seas  about  Cape  Horn.  The  Falkland  Islands 
and  Australia  and  New  Zealand. 

FIG.  102. 


Pelecanoides  urinatrix.     From  material  in  the  British  Museum.     Wing.     Natural  size. 

The  description  is  based  on  the  material  in  the  British  Museum  of 
Natural  History  as  the  Diving  Petrel  was  not  procured  by  the  Princeton 
Expeditions  to  Patagonia. 

These  petrels  are  so  widely  different  in  their  general  habits  from  those 
of  other  genera,  that  I  quote  from  Charles  Darwin  (Voy.  "  Beagle,"  Birds, 
p.  138)  whose  comments  make  a  vivid  picture  of  the  birds  in  life;  under 
the  heading  of  Pelecanoides  berardi  he  writes  : 

"This  bird  is  common  in  the  deep  and  quiet  creeks  and  inland  seas  of 
Tierra  del  Fuego,  and  on  the  west  coast  of  Patagonia,  as  far  north  as  the 
Chonos  Archipelago.  I  never  saw  but  one  in  the  open  sea,  and  that  was 
between  Tierra  del  Fuego  and  the  Falkland  Islands.  This  bird  is  a 


AVES PELECANOID/E.  163 

complete  auk  in  its  habits,  although  from  its  structure  it  must  be  classed 
with  the  Petrels.  To  the  latter  Mr.  Gould  informs  me,  its  affinity  is 
clearly  shown  by  the  form  of  its  beak  and  nostrils,  length  of  foot,  and 
even  by  the  general  color  of  its  plumage.  To  the  auks  it  is  related  in 
the  general  form  of  its  body,  its  short  wings,  shape  of  tail,  and  absence 
of  hind-toe  to  the  foot.  When  seen  from  a  distance  and  undisturbed,  it 
would  almost  certainly  be  mistaken,  from  its  manner  of  swimming  and 
frequent  diving,  for  a  grebe.  When  approached  in  a  boat,  it  generally 
dives  to  a  distance,  and  on  coming  to  the  surface,  with  the  same  move- 
ment takes  flight ;  having  flown  some  way,  it  drops  like  a  stone  on  the 
water,  as  if  struck  dead,  and  instantaneously  dives  again.  No  one  seeing 
this  bird  for  the  first  time,  thus  diving  like  a  grebe  and  flying  in  a  straight 
line  by  the  rapid  movement  of  its  short  wings  like  an  auk,  would  be  will- 
ing to  believe  that  it  was  a  member  of  the  family  of  Petrels,  the  greater 
number  of  which  are  eminently  pelagic  in  their  habits,  do  not  dive,  and 
whose  flight  is  usually  most  graceful  and  continuous.  I  observed  at  Port 
Famine,  that  these  birds,  in  the  evening,  sometimes  flew  in  straight  lines 
from  one  part  of  the  sound  to  another ;  but  during  the  day,  they  scarcely 
ever,  I  believe,  take  wing,  if  undisturbed.  They  are  not  very  wild ;  if  they 
had  been  so,  from  their  habit  of  diving  and  flying,  it  would  have  been 
extremely  difficult  to  have  procured  a  specimen.  The  legs  of  this  bird 
are  of  a  '  flax-flower  blue.'  ' 

Also  from  Coppinger,  Cruise  of  the  "Alert,"  page  105,  1883: 
•  "  One  night  a  small  petrel  flew  on  board,  into  one  of  the  hoisted-up 
boats,  where  it  was  found  by  one  of  the  seamen  in  the  usual  apparently 
helpless  state.  It  is  odd  that  some  species  of  the  family  of  petrels  should 
find  such  difficulty  about  rising  on  the  wing  from  a  ship's  deck.  A  freshly 
caught  Cape  pigeon,  placed  on  its  legs  on  the  deck,  seems  to  forget 
utterly  that  it  possesses  the  power  of  flight,  and  does  not  even  attempt  to 
use  its  wings,  but  waddles  about  like  an  old  farm-yard  duck.  The  petrel 
above  referred  to  was  the  little  diver  (Pelecanoides  urinatrix],  a  bird  not 
uncommon  in  the  channels,  but  yet  very  difficult  to  obtain.  During  the 
previous  season  on  the  surveying  ground,  Sir  George  Nares,  who  was  the 
first  to  notice  it,  reported  one  day,  that  he  had  seen  one  of  his  old  arctic 
friends,  the  "little  auk,"  which  indeed  in  its  habits  it  strongly  resembles. 
It  usually  (at  all  events  during  the  day  time)  sits  on  the  surface  of  the 
water,  and  on  the  least  sign  of  danger  takes  a  long  dive  like  a  grebe,  and 


164  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

on  rising  to  the  surface  again  flies  away  some  few  hundred  yards,  keeping 
all  the  while  close  to  the  surface.  Its  flight  is  like  that  of  the  grebe,  but 
more  feeble." 

Also  from  Moseley's  Notes  by  a  Naturalist  on  the  "Challenger,"  page 
209(1879). 

"On  two  days  in  which  excursions  were  made  in  the  steam  pinnace, 
the  water  was  seen  to  be  covered  with  these  birds  in  flocks,  extending 
over  acres,  which  were  black  with  them.  The  habits  of  the  northern 
Little  Auk  are  said  to  be  closely  similar  to  those  of  this  bird  ;  so  close  is 
the  resemblance,  that  the  whalers  have  transferred  one  of  their  familiar 
names  for  the  Little  Auk  to  the  Diving  Petrel.  The  diving  petrels  dive 
with  extreme  rapidity,  and  when  frightened,  get  up  and  flutter  along  close 
to  the  water,  and  drop  and  dive  again.  It  is  a  curious  sight  to  see  a 
whole  flock  thus  taking  flight.  The  birds  make  holes  in  the  ground  like 
the  Prions,  and  lay  an  egg  white  with  a  few  red  specks  at  one  end. 
They  breed  in  enormous  quantities  on  the  islands  in  Royal  Sound. 
They  are  readily  attracted  by  a  light,  and  some  were  caught  on  board 
through  coming  to  the  ship's  lights." 

"Lays  one  egg  in  a  burrow  in  the  hill-side,  generally  selecting  the  same 
locality  as  Halobcena  ccerulea.  Burrow  is  straight,  slanting  slightly  down- 
ward, and  less  deep  than  that  of  Halobana.  Egg  is  a  regular  ovoid, 
tending  in  some  specimens  to  ellipsoidal.  First  found  December  10. 
Shell  is  white,  thin,  brittle,  compact,  and  homogeneous  in  structure. 
No  color-markings."  (Natural  History  of  Kerguelen  Island,  J.  H.  Kid- 
der,  M.D.,  Bull.  No.  3,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  p.  17,  1876.) 

"Female :  Antonio  Islands,  Trinidad  Channel,  February  17,  1879.  Eyes 
black ;  bill  black ;  legs  slate  colour.  Stomach  containing  small  Crustacea. 

"Female:  Cockle  Cove,  October  16,  1879.  Bill  black;  iris  dark  brown; 
legs  and  feet  slate-coloured. 

"The  following  are  the  dimensions  of  the  adult  specimen : — total  length 
8.5  inches,  culmen  0.75,  wing  4.9,  tail  1.7,  tarsus  I.  These  measure- 
ments exceed  those  of  the  specimens  already  in  the  Museum  from  the 
Straits  of  Magellan,  and  appear  to  be  intermediate  between  the  ordinary 
P.  urinatrix  and  the  larger  P.  garnoti,  which,  after  all,  does  not  seem  to 
be  a  very  distinct  species."  (Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  12.) 

"Two  males.  Feb.  7th,  Molineux  Sound.  Iris  black;  bill  black;  tarsi 
and  toes  blue-grey,  with  black  line  down  back  of  tarsus,  webs  black.  I 


AVES DIOMEDEID^E.  165 

first  saw  these  curious  little  Petrels  the  day  before  we  reached  the 
Straits  of  Magellan.  I  watched  them  all  the  afternoon  rising  under  our 
bows,  flying  for  a  short  distance  with  a  feeble  fluttering  flight,  and  then 
diving  again  suddenly  into  the  water.  They  were  abundant  all  through 
the  Straits  and  Smythe's  Channel,  but  were  not  easy  to  shoot,  as  they 
dived  at  the  flash  of  a  gun.  The  stomach  of  this  species  is  very  large 
and  soft,  and  is  apparently  little  more  than  an  enlargement  of  the  pro- 
ventriculus,  having  no  visible  muscular  system :  those  examined  were 
filled  with  fishes."  (M.  J.  Nicoll,  Orn.  Jour.  Voy.  round  World,  Ibis, 
Jan.  1904,  p.  47.) 

"On  Jan.  27th,  a  few  hours  before  we  arrived  at  the  entrance  of  the 
Magellan  Straits,  I  saw  a  number  of  Diving  Petrels  (Pelecanoides  urina- 
trix]  and  a  Penguin.  (M.  J.  Nicoll,  Orn.  Jour.  Voy.  round  World,  Ibis, 
Jan.  1904,  p.  47.) 

Family  DIOMEDEID.E. 

Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  440   (1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List 
Bds.  I.  p.  128  (1899). 

Genus  DIOMEDEA  Linnaeus. 

Type. 

Diomedea,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  214  (1766);  Bp. 
Consp.  Av.  II.  p.  184  (1855);  Coues,  Proc.  Acad. 
Sci.  Philad.  1866,  p.  175;  Forbes,  Voy.  "Chall." 
Zool.  IV.  pt.  xi.  p.  42,  etc.  (1882). 

Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  440  (1896);  Sharpe,  Hand- 
List  Bds.  I.  p.  128  (1899) D.  exulans. 

Phcebastria,  Reichenb.  Naturl.  Syst.  Vog.  p.  v.  (1852)     D.  albatrus. 

Tkalassarche,  Reichenb.  Naturl.  Syst.  Vog.  p.  v.  (1852)    D.  melanophrys. 

Geographical  Range.—  The  Southern  Oceans,  and  the  North  Pacific 
Ocean. 

DIOMEDEA  EXULANS  Linnaeus. 

The  Man  of  War  Bird,  Albin,  Nat.  Hist.  B.  III.  p.  76,-pl.  81  (1740). 
Diomedea  exulans,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat  I.  p.  132  (1758);  King,  Zool.  Journ. 
IV.  p.  195  (1829:  Straits  of  Magellan);  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil. 


1 66 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 


p.  47  (1868);  Cunningh.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.  pp.  225,  329  (1871); 
Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  148  (1873:  Straits  of  Magel- 
lan); Vincig.  Boll.  Soc.  Geogr.  Ital.  (2)  IX.  p.  799  (1884);  Burm.  An. 
Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  Part  X.  p.  248  (1888:  Seas  of  Pata- 

FIG.  103. 


Diomedea  exulans.     Profile  of  head.     From  material  in  the  British  Museum, 


natural  size. 


cW  ••?'* 

te'l '"» J 


gonia);  Oust.   Miss.  Sci.   Cap   Horn,   Oiseaux,  pp.  157,  332  (1891  : 

Straits  of  Magellan:  Patagonia);  James,  New  List  Chilian  B.  p.  13 

(1892);  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.   Brit.   Mus.  XXV.    p.    441 

(1896:    Valparaiso);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  128 

(1899);  Carbajal,  La  Patagonia,  Part  II.  p.  277  (1900); 

Gates,  Cat.   Bds.   Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.   162  (1901); 

Sharpe,  Rep.  Coll.  Nat.  Hist.  "Southern  Cross,"  Aves, 

p.    160  (1902);  Vallentin,   Mem.  Manchester  Soc.  48 

No.  23  p.  30  (1904:  Falkland  Islands). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Adult  Male. — Total  length,  about  42  inches. 
Wing  (carpal  joint  to  longest  primary),  25.5  inches. 
Extent  (from  tip  to  tip  of  longest  primary),  125  to  130 
inches. 

Tail,  8.3  inches. 

Bill  (from  gape),  7.0  inches. 

Bill  (from  base  of  culmen),  6.7  inches. 

Tarsus,  4.8  inches. 


V 

Diomedea  ex- 
ulans. Head 
from  above. 
From  material 
in  the  British 
Museum.  ^ 
natural  size. 


AVES DIOMEDEID/E.  1 67 

Color.  Adult  Male. — General  color,  white,  with  transverse  dark  lines 
on  upper  back  and  dark  wings. 

Head  white. 

Neck  white. 

Back  from  base  of  neck  banded  with  narrow  transverse  wavy  lines  of 
dusky  brown.  Lower  back  white. 

Wings :  The  scapulars  are  more  strongly  banded  than  the  back,  but 
the  banding  becomes  indefinite  and  the  general  direction  of  the  lines  more 
parallel  with  the  margins  of  the  feathers.  In  the  longest  scapulars  these 
lines  merge  into  one  another  forming  a  slaty  black  tip  to  the  feathers. 

The  wing  proper  is  slaty  black,  the  lesser  coverts  having  a  varying 
amount  of  white  on  their  inner  webs,  increasing  toward  the  edge  of  the 
wing. 

The  middle  and  greater  coverts  are  narrowly  edged  with  white. 

The  primaries  are  black  on  their  exposed  surfaces,  the  concealed  por- 
tion of  the  shafts  being  yellowish  white,  and  of  the  webs  nearly  pure  white. 

Tail :  White.  Most  birds  show  some  traces  of  dark  markings  on  the 
webs  of  the  rectrices. 

Under  parts  white. 

Bill  yellowish  horn  color,  orange  at  the  base. 

Legs  flesh  color. 

Feet  flesh  color. 

Immature  birds,  are  dark  brown  above,  palest  on  the  neck  and  with  a 
dark  patch  on  the  crown.  The  forehead,  sides  of  the  head  and  throat  are 
white.  The  under  surface  is  yellowish  or  brownish  white,  palest  on  the 
belly.  The  flanks  are  mottled  with  dusky,  and  the  under  tail  coverts  are 
dusky  brown. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Southern  Oceans.  Seas  about  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope  and  Cape  Horn.  South  Atlantic  and  South  Pacific  Oceans 
regularly  north  to  about  30°  south  latitude.  Casually  in  the  Atlantic  to 
the  coast  of  Florida,  and  in  the  Pacific  to  the  coast  of  Washington. 


The  description  is  based  on  material  in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural 
History. 

The  following  biographical  notes  on  the  species  may  be  quoted : 


1 68  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

"We  found  this  bird  (the  Goney  of  the  whalers)  nesting  at  Marion 
Island,  Possession  Island,  and  Kerguelen ;  and  during  our  cruises  in  the 
Southern  and  Antarctic  Oceans,  it  was  an  almost  constant  follower  of  the 
ship,  except  to  the  south  of  Heard  Island,  and  in  the  immediate  neighbour- 
hood of  the  Antarctic  ice.  Its  habitat  seems  especially  to  be  the  westerly 
winds  of  the  Southern  Ocean.  The  nests  were  at  Kerguelen  generally 
scattered  about  on  the  mossy  slopes  of  the  headlands,  and  were  often 
three  hundred  feet  above  the  sea. 

"The  nests  are  about  one  foot  high,  and  two  feet  in  diameter,  and  are 
built  of  earth,  grass,  Azorella,  and  decayed  vegetable  matter.  The  nests 
are  widely  separated  from  each  other,  that  is  to  say,  that  I  never  saw  two 
nests  nearer  to  each  other  than  fifty  yards.  We  found  one  egg  in  each 
nest;  I  saw  no  young  during  our  visit  (January).  The  Whalers  told  us 
that  they  were  very  fond  of  the  young  Goneys,  and  ate  great  numbers  of 
them ;  they  were  the  best  eating  of  any  of  the  birds. 

"They  seem  to  have  considerable  difficulty  in  rising  on  the  wing,  from  the 
places  where  they  build  their  nests.  I  noticed  several  run  for  over  two 
hundred  yards  with  extended  wings  before  they  got  fairly  off.  On  many 
of  our  specimens  there  was  a  beautiful  rose  tinge  on  each  side  of  the  head. 

"The  heaviest  specimen  we  weighed  was  19  pounds  and  measured  n-6 
from  tip  to  tip  of  the  wings."  (O.  Salvin,  Rep.  Bds.  Voy.  "Chall."  Vol. 
II.  pt.  viii.  p.  147,  1881.) 

Cunningham  in  "Notes  on  the  Natural  History  of  the  Straits  of  Ma- 
gellan and  West  Coast  of  Patagonia,  page  329  (1871)"  writes  : 

"On  the  26th  the  wind  gradually  fell,  and  there  was  a  very  heavy 
swell ;  but  by  the  morning  of  the  27th  the  sea  had  gone  down,  and  it  was 
nearly  dead  calm  throughout  the  day,  and  beautifully  bright  and  warm. 
A  most  remarkable  spectacle  was  furnished  by  the  flocks  of  albatrosses 
(Diomedea  exulans],  which  were  peacefully  resting  on  the  calm  surfacs 
of  the  water  around  the  ship.  Though  the  appearance  of  these  birde 
when  on  the  wing  is  very  fine,  they  look  singularly  awkward  when  swim- 
ming, their  great  heavy  heads,  and  large  strong  beaks,  suggesting  a 
child's  first  attempts  at  drawing  water-fowl.  At  one  time  about  twenty 
of  them  were  close  astern  of  us,  growling  hoarsely  as  they  fought  over 
the  garbage  thrown  overboard  from  time  to  time.  Several  were  taken  on 
baited  lines,  and  hauled  in  with  considerable  difficulty,  as  they  struggled 
most  vigorously,  aiming  violent  blows  at  their  captors  with  their  powerful 


AVES DIOMEDEID^E.  169 

pinions  Some  disgorged  what  they  had  been  feeding  on,  which  consisted 
principally  of  large  Cephalopods  of  the  genus  Ommastrephes  or  Loligo.  I 
killed  two  specimens  with  the  aid  of  chloroform,  the  skin  of  one  of  which 
I  afterwards  preserved,  and  several  more  were  slaughtered  by  the  ship's 
company  for  the  sake  of  certain  of  their  wing-bones  (the  radii)  which  are 
held  in  much  esteem  for  pipe-stems.  The  largest  captured  measured  ten 
feet  nine  inches  in  expanse  of  wing,  while  that  which  I  preserved  was 
somewhat  smaller." 

Moseley  in  "  Notes  by  a  Naturalist  on  the  'Challenger'"  (1879)  writes 
on  page  134: 

"Besides  the  birds  I  have  mentioned  the  great  Albatross  (D.  exulans] 
breeds  at  Tristan  da  Cunha,  and  on  the  top  of  Inaccessible  Island.  At 
Tristan  da  Cunha  it  nests  actually  within  the  crater  of  the  terminal  cone 
around  the  lake,  7,000  feet  or  more  above  the  sea. 

"The  Mollymauk  is  common  in  Tristan  da  Cunha,  and  its  eggs  were 
brought  off  to  us  by  the  islanders  for  sale;  they  are  not  bad  eating." 

Our  page  171  of  the  same  book  Moseley  says:  "The  tracts  of  lower, 
nearly  flat,  land  of  Marion  Island  skirting  the  sea,  and  the  lower  hills  and 
slopes  along  the  shore,  presented  a  curious  spectacle  as  viewed  from  the 
ship  as  it  steamed  in  towards  a  likely-looking  sheltered  spot  for  landing 
The  whole  place  was  everywhere  dotted  over  with  albatrosses,  the  large 
white  albatross  or  Goney  (D.  exulans].  The  birds  were  scattered  irregu- 
larly all  over  the  green  in  pairs,  looking  in  the  distance  not  unlike  geese 
on  a  common." 

On  page  180  he  says:  "The  Skuas  of  course  were  close  at  hand,  and 
swooped  down  at  once  on  the  body  of  a  penguin  that  we  skinned. 
Beyond  the  penguin  rookery  was  a  large  tract  of  nearly  flat  land,  very 
swampy,  and  covered  with  grass.  On  the  drier  parts  were  numerous 
troops  of  from  twenty  to  thirty  King  Penguins,  and  in  one  place  a  smaller 
rookery,  but  as  far  as  I  saw  without  brooders. 

"There  was  here  a  shallow  freshwater  lake,  on  which  some  young  alba- 
trosses were  swimming.  I  ascended  the  slope  inland  towards  the  snow, 
going  up  the  gentle  slope  of  the  modern  looking  lava  flow  already  referred 
to.  The  ground  was  very  boggy,  and  let  one  sink  in  sometimes  almost 
up  to  the  middle.  There  were  numerous  Great  Albatross's  nests  scattered 
about,  but  they  did  not  extend  more  than  100  feet  above  sea  level,  and 
hardly  anywhere  as  high  up  as  that." 


1 70  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

On  page  254  he  says:  "We  seldom  saw  birds  on  the  icebergs,  but  a 
flock  of  Cape  pigeons  was  sometimes  seen  roosting  on  the  top  of  one. 
The  Great  White  Albatross  (Diomedea  exulans]  accompanied  the  ship 
only  about  500  miles  south  of  Heard  Island,  stopping  at  more  than  200 
miles  from  the  edge  of  the  pack." 

"Nests  are  on  tall  mounds,  built  up  of  grass  to  the  height  of  two  or 
more  feet  from  the  ground,  and,  being  of  different  heights,  seem  to  have 
been  used  again  and  added  to  year  after  year.  The  egg  is  single,  ellipti- 
cal in  longitudinal  section,  and  but  slightly  thicker  at  the  large  than  at 
the  small  end.  Only  occasional  specimens  tend  somewhat  to  the  ovoid 
form.  The  shell  is  white,  of  loose  granular  texture  and  roughly  mam- 
millated  surface.  There  are  no  markings  beneath  the  superficial  calcare- 
ous layer,  and  the  spots  which  appear  on  this  seem  to  be  adventitious 
stains  from  the  secretions  of  the  oviduct,  or  accidental  soiling  after  extru- 
sion. Some  specimens  show  a  reddish  stain  upon  the  larger  end,  prob- 
ably dried  blood,  since  it  readily  washed  off."  (Natural  History  of  Ker- 
guelen  Island,  J.  H.  Kidder,  M.D.,  Bull.  No.  3,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  p.  n, 
1876.) 

Northerly  from  Dungeness  Spit.  "A  magnificent  albatross  was  soar- 
ing about  at  a  short  distance  astern  for  some  time  in  the  afternoon,  and 
was  knocked  over,  but  unfortunately  not  picked  up.  All  those  who  have 
watched  these  splendid  birds  must  have  been  struck  with  the  marvellous 
nature  of  their  flight,  as  they  may  often  be  seen  sailing  about  for  more 
than  an  hour  at  a  time  without  any  apparent  movement  of  their  long  nar- 
row wings,  and  will,  I  doubt  not,  agree  with  a  well-known  ornithological 
observer,  Captain  Hutton,  who  has  remarked  that  he  has  never  'wit- 
nessed anything  to  equal  the  ease  and  grace  of  this  bird,  as  he  sweeps 
past,  often  within  a  few  yards,  every  part  of  his  body  perfectly  motionless, 
except  the  head  and  eye,  which  turn  slowly,  and  seem  to  take  notice  of 
everything.'  A  good  deal  of  discussion  has  arisen  as  to  the  method  by 
which  this  sailing  flight  is  maintained,  and  perhaps  the  question  can 
hardly  be  considered  as  fairly  settled.  Dr.  Pettigrew  has  observed,  in 
his  interesting  and  valuable  memoir,  On  the  Mechanism  of  Flight,  that  in 
sailing  or  gliding  birds  "the  pinion  acts  as  a  long  lever,  and  is  wielded 
with  precision  and  power,  particularly  at  the  shoulder." 

And  further,  that  a  careful  examination  of  the  movements  of  skimming 
birds  has  led  him  to  conclude : 


AVES DIOMEDEID^E.  iyi 

"That  by  a  judicious  twisting  or  screw-like  action  of  the  wings  at  the 
shoulder,  in  which  the  pinions  are  alternately  advanced  towards  and  with- 
drawn from  the  head  in  a  manner  analogous  to  what  occurs  at  the  pelvis 
in  skating  without  lifting  the  feet,  birds  of  this  order  can  not  only  main- 
tain the  motion,  which  they  secure  by  a  few  energetic  flappings,  but,  if 
necessary,  actually  increase  it,  and  that  without  either  bending  the  wing, 
or  beating  the  air." 

"Whether,  however,  this  is  a  correct  or  sufficient  explanation  of  what 
appears  at  first  sight  a  very  perplexing  phenomenon,  I  do  not  venture  to 
offer  any  opinion."  (Cunn.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.  1871,  pp.  225-226.) 

From  the  Strait  to  the  Falkland  Islands  he  writes:  "We  observed 
some  very  fine  albatrosses,  and  a  solitary  penguin,  which  was  progressing 
at  a  rapid  rate  by  means  of  a  series  of  flying  leaps,  presenting  much  the 
appearance  of  an  animated  beer-bottle."  (Cunn.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell. 
1871,  p.  291.) 

Mr.  R.  Vallentin  in  his  notes  on  the  Falkland  Islands  says:  "Only  a 
visitor  to  this  archipelago.  Their  nearest  nesting  place  is  South  Georgia ; 
a  desolate  uninhabited  island  about  800  miles  south-east  of  the  Falkland 
Archipelago.  I  have  in  my  collection  three  eggs  of  this  species,  which 
were  given  to  me  by  the  captain  of  a  South  Sea  whaler,  who  put  into 
Stanley  on  his  return  from  those  inhospitable  regions.  He  found  the 
nests  of  these  birds  fairly  numerous  along  the  high  ground  round  Cum- 
berland Bay,  South  Georgia." 

DIOMEDEA  MELANOPHRYS  Temminck. 

Diomedea  melanophrys,  Boie  in  Temm.  PI.  Col.  pi.  456  (1828)  ;  Gould, 
P.  Z.  S.  1859,  p.  98  (Falkland  Islands:  egg);  Abbott,  Ibis,  i86i,p. 
165  (Falkland  Is.,  breeding);  Pelz.  Reis.  Novara,  Vog.  p.  148 
(1865:  Chile);  Newt.  Ibis,  1870,  p.  503  (Falklands,  eggs);  Scl.  & 
Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  148  (1873:  Falkland  Islands)  ;  Salv. 
Voy.  Chall.  II.  Birds,  p.  151  (1881 :  Falkland  Islands,  eggs)  ;  id.  P. 
Z.  S.  1883,  p.  430  (Talcahuano  Bay);  Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap  Horn, 
Oiseaux,  pp.  304,  332  (1891  :  Falkland  Isl.) ;  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit. 
Mus.  XXV.  p.  447  (1896) ;  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  655. 
(1898:  Cavancha,  July:  Talcahuano,  June) ;  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds. 
I.  p.  129  (1899);  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  .20 
(1900:  Falkland  Islands);  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p, 


172 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS!     ZOOLOGY. 


163  (1901)  ;  Sharpe,  Rep.  Coll.  Nat.  Hist.  "Southern  Cross,"  Aves, 
p.  161  (1902);  Nicoll,  Ibis,  1901,  p.  52  (Valparaiso). 
Thalassarche  melanophrys,    Carbajal,    La    Patagonia,    Part    II.    p.    277 
(1900). 


FIG.  105. 


FIG.  106. 


Diomtdea  melanophrys.  Profile  of  head. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum.  % 
natural  size. 


Diomedea  melanophrys.  Head  from  above. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum,  *<£ 
natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.     Adult  Male.  —  Total  length,  about  30  inches. 

Wing,  20  inches. 

Tail,  7.3  inches. 

Bill  (from  gape),  5.2  inches. 

Tarsus,  3.3  inches. 

Color.  Adult  Male.  —  General  color  above,  head  and  neck  white,  back 
and  wings  plumbeous  black,  tail  slaty ;  below  white. 

Head  :  White,  with  a  slaty  black  transocular  band. 

Neck  white. 

Back:  Plumbeous  black,  becoming  more  cinereous  anteriorly,  and 
merging  gradually  into  the  white  of  the  neck. 

Wings :  Like  the  back  in  color. 

Tail :  Slaty  black,  each  feather  having  a  white  shaft. 

Lower  parts :  White,  except  the  border  of  the  under  surface  of  the  wing 
which  is  greyish  black. 

Bill :  Yellowish  horn  color,  the  tip  dusky. 


AVES DIOMEDEIDyE.  173 

"Male:  Valparaiso,  August  13,  1879.  Bill  grey,  with  dark  tips;  feet 
light  grey ;  iris  dark  brown."  (Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  12.) 

Legs:   "  Yellowish  white  "  (Gould). 

Feet:  "Toes  yellowish  white,  the  interdigital  membrane  and  the  points 
washed  with  blue"  (Gould). 

The  female  is  like  the  male  in  size  and  color. 

Immature  birds  resemble  the  adults  but  the  lower  surface  of  the  wing 
is  concolor  with  the  upper  and  has  no  large  white  area.  The  D.  gilliana 
of  Coues  is  probably  based  on  an  immature  individual  of  this  species. 
(See  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  448  (1896).) 

Geographical  Range. — Southern  Oceans,  especially  the  South  Pacific. 
Casual  on  the  coast  of  California  and  straying  to  North  Atlantic. 


The  description  here  given  is  based  on  material  in  the  Philadelphia 
Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  and  in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural 
History.  The  birds  were  not  obtained  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to 
Patagonia. 

These  birds  are  known  to  breed  on  the  Falkland  Island,  where  eggs 
were  obtained  by  the  Naturalists  of  the  Challenger. 

On  the  habits  of  this  species  we  quote  from  Dr.  Coppinger,  "Cruise  of 
the  Alert,"  p.  89  (1883),  as  follows: 

"  My  experience  of  petrels  and  albatrosses  is  that  whenever  they  are 
having  a  really  good  meal,  they  invariably  sit  down  on  the  water.  This 
is  especially  noticeable  about  noon,  when  mess  garbage  is  thrown  over- 
board, and  in  perfectly  calm  weather  I  have  even  seen  a  flock  of  storm 
petrels  settle  down  on  the  surface  as  if  meaning  to  rest  themselves,  and 
remain  as  still  as  ducks  on  a  pond,  basking  in  the  sunshine.  One  day 
also  in  moderately  fine  weather  I  thought  I  saw  a  Cape  pigeon  dive. 
This  surprised  me  so  that  I  watched,  and  saw  the  manoeuvre  repeated 
again  and  again.  Some  refuse  had  been  scattered  overboard  which 
scarcely  floated,  and  this  petrel,  being  desirous  of  possessing  some  morsels 
of  food  which  were  submerged,  dived  bodily  down,  apparently  without 
the  least  inconvenience. 

"Before  quitting  this  subject,  I  shall  say  a  few  words  on  a  somewhat 
hackneyed  but  still  open  question,  viz.,  —  'the  flight  of  the  albatross.'  I 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

have  had  many  opportunities  of  watching  the  yellow-billed  species  (D. 
melanophrys],  and  I  have  noticed  that  it  sometimes  uses  its  wings  to 
raise  or  propel  itself  in  such  a  manner  that  to  a  superficial  observer  it 
would  then  appear  to  be  only  soaring  with  wings  stationary.  It  does  not 
'  flap '  them,  but  depresses  them  rapidly  towards  the  breast,  so  that  it 
seems  as  if  the  body  were  being  raised  at  the  expense  of  the  wings, 
whereas,  in  reality,  the  entire  bird  is  elevated.  The  movement  does  not 
resemble  a  flap,  simply  because  the  return  of  the  wings  to  the  horizontal 
position  is  accomplished  by  a  comparatively  slow  movement.  By  resorting 
to  this  manceuvre  occasionally,  it  is  able  to  maintain  a  soaring  flight  for 
periods  which,  without  its  aid,  might  be  considered  extraordinarily  long. 
Of  course,  when  it  wants  to  gain  a  fresh  stock  of  buoyancy  and  momentum, 
it  gives  three  or  four  flaps  like  any  other  bird." 

Genus  PHCEBETRIA  Reichenbach. 

Type. 

Phozbetria,  Reichenb.  Natiirl.  Syst.  Vog.  p.  v.  (1852); 
Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Sci.  Philad.  1866,  p.  186;  Forbes, 
Voy.  Chall.  Zool.  IV.  pt.  xi.  p.  42  (1882);  Ridgw. 
Man.  No.  Am.  Bds.  p.  53  (1887);  Salvin,  Cat.  Bds. 
Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  453  (1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List 
Bds.  I.  p.  129  (1899) P.  fuliginosa. 

Diomedea  (partim),  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  II.  p.  184  (1855). 

Geographical  Range. — Southern  Oceans. 

PHCEBETRIA  FULIGINOSA  (Gmelin). 

Sooty  Albatross,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  i.  p.  309  (1785). 

Diomedea  fuliginosa,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  568  (1788);  Oust.  Miss.  Sci. 

Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  303,  332  (1891:  Falkland  Islands:  Tierra 

del  Fuego). 
Phozbetria  fuliginosa,   Salvin,  Cat.   B.   Brit.   Mus.   XXV.   p.  453  (1896); 

Sharpe,  Hand-List  B.  I.  p.  129  (1899);  Carbajal,  La  Patagonia,  Part 

II.  p.  277  (1900):  Oates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  164  (1901); 
-Sharpe,  Rep.  Coll.  Nat.  Hist.  "Southern  Cross,"  Aves,  p.  164  (1902). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.    Adult  Male. — Total  length,  about  36  inches. 


AVES DIOMEDEID/E. 


175 


Wing,  ,19.5  inches. 
Tail,  central  rectrices,  10.5  inches. 
Tail,  lateral  rectrices,  7.0  inches. 
Bill,  4.5  inches. 
Tarsus,  3.0  inches. 

Color.      Adidt  Male. — General   color  dark  sooty  fuliginous,   a  little 
lighter  on  the  under  surface  and  about  the  interscapular  region.     A  white 


FIG.  107. 


FIG.  108. 


Phcebetria  fuliginosa.  Profile  of  head.  From 
material  in  the  British  Museum.  ]£  natural 
size. 


Phcebetria  fuliginosa.  Head  from  above. 
From  material  in  the  British  Museum.  ^ 
natural  size. 


ring  almost  surrounds  the  eye,  broken  only  in  front.     Bill  black.     Feet 
and  legs  dull  flesh  color.     Sexes  alike  in  size  and  color. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Southern  Oceans  generally.  Tierra  del  Fuego 
and  the  Falkland  Islands.  North  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  regularly  to  20° 
South  Latitude,  and  casually  to  the  coast  of  Oregon. 


Dr.  Coues  and  Mr.  Salvin  have  both  noticed  individuals  presumably 
referable  to  this  species,  which  are  much  greyer  in  tone  than  the  ordinary 
form.  The  D.  fuliginosa  var.  cornicoides  of  Hutton  appears  to  be  based 
on  such  examples.  I  am  inclined  to  believe  inasmuch  as  the  two  phases 
are  generally  found  together  that  this  is  a  difference  in  color  correlating 
with  age,  but  the  fact  remains  to  be  investigated  and  proved.  The  des- 
scription  here  given  is  based  on  material  in  the  Academy  of  Natural 


PATAGONIAN   EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

Sciences  and  in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History.  The  Princeton 
Expeditions  to  Patagonia  did  not  obtain  specimens  of  the  Sooty  Alba- 
trosses, but  Mr.  Hatcher  states  that  he  observed  "black  albatrosses"  at 
sea  not  far  distant  from  the  eastern  entrance  to  the  Straits  of  Magellan. 

Moseley  in  "Notes  by  A  Naturalist  on  the  'Challenger/'  p.  180 
(1879),  writes: 

"  High  up,  at  about  500  feet  elevation,  were  some  four  or  five  Sooty 
Albatrosses  (Diomedea  ftiliginosa,  the  Piew  or  Pio  of  sealers),  soaring 
about  the  tops  of  the  cliffs  snd  probably  nesting  there.  This  bird  is  con- 
tinually to  be  seen  about  cliffs  and  higher  mountain  slopes,  and  seems 
never  to  nest  low  down  like  the  Molly mauk  and  Goney." 

"Nests  on  rocky  shelves  or  in  caves  in  the  faces  of  lofty  cliffs  where 
the  birds  build  a  conical  mound,  seven  or  eight  inches  high,  hollowed 
into  a  cup  at  the  top  and  lined  rudely  with  grass.  Egg  is  single,  broadly 
ovoidal,  generally  white,  marked  by  a  collection  of  specks  about  the 
larger  end,  somewhat  like  the  adventitious  stains  on  the  eggs  of  D.  exti- 
lans,  but,  as  well  as  we  can  judge,  less  superficial.  The  shell  is  compact 
in  structure,  rather  thin  for  its  size,  and  superficially  smooth  to  the  touch. 
Under  the  lens,  it  is  seen  to  be  marked  by  minute  pits  and  linear  depres- 
sions, being  thus  decidedly  different,  both  to  the  eye  and  to  the  touch, 
from  those  of  D.  exulans."  •  (Natural  History  of  Kerguelen  Island,  J.  H. 
Kidder,  M.D.,  Bull.  No.  3,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  p.  12,  1876.) 

Order   LARIFORMES. 

Sharpe,  Classif.  Bds.  p.  72,  1891  ;  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  133,  1899. 

Family  LARID.E. 

Saunders,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  3,    1896;   Sharpe,    Hand-List 
Bds.  I.  p.  133,  1899. 

Subfamily  STERNIN^.. 
Saunders,  t.  c.  p.  4;  Sharpe,  t.  c.  p.  133. 

Genus  GELOCHELIDON  Brehm. 

Type. 
Gelochelidon,  Brehm,  Vog.  Deutschl.  p.  774  (1831) ;  Saunders, 

t.  c.  p.  25  (1896);  Sharpe,  t.  c.  p.  134  (1899)    .     .     .     .   G.  anglica. 
Laropis,  Wagler,  Isis,  1832,  p.  1225 G.  anglica. 


AVES LARID^:.  1 77 

Geographical  Range.  —  Temperate  Europe  and  Asia,  Australia,  North 
and  South  America  on  Atlantic  coast  from  Brazil  to  Long  Island,  New 
York,  and  casually  to  Massachusetts.  Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts  of 
Mexico  and  Central  America  in  winter;  almost  unknown  on  the  Pacific 
coast  at  other  seasons. 


GELOCHELIDON  ANGLICA  (Montagu). 

Sterna  anglica,  Mont.    Orn.    Diet.    Suppl.   fig.    (1813;   Sussex):   Burm. 

An.  Mus.  Nac.   Buenos  Aires,  III.  part 

X.    p.    248   (1888:    Coast   of   northern  FIG.  109. 

Patagonia);  Holland,  Ibis,  1890,  p.  248 

(Buenos  Ayres)  ;  id.  Ibis,  1892,  p.  212 

(Estancia    Espartilla,     rare,     occasional 

throughout  the  year). 
Viralva    aranea,    Darwin,    Voy.    "Beagle," 

Birds,  p.  145  (1841  ;  Bahia  Blanca). 
Gelochelidon    anglica,    Saunders,   Cat.    Bds.       Gtiochdidon  anglica.    Profile  of 

_    .        ,,  ,,.,,,  T  ,    ^    s-.       TT    i       head.    Adult  breeding.     From  ma- 

Brit.     MUS.     XXV.    p.    25    (l896);     Hoi-    terlal  in  Princeton  University  Mu- 
land,.   Ibis,    1897,    P-    169  (Estancia    Sta.     seum.     About  ^  natural  size. 
Elena) ;    Sharpe,    Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p. 
134  (1899) ;  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  177  (1901). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size  (adult).  —  Total  length,  13.7  to  15.5  inches. 

Wing,  11.75  to  13  inches. 

Tail,  lateral  rectrices,  5.3  to  6.0  inches. 

Tail,  depth  of  fork,  1.5  to  1.75  inches. 

Culmen,  1.4  to  2.0  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.35  to  1.45  inches. 

Color. — Adult  male.  (Breeding,  No.  4217,  P.  U.  O.  C.  Cobb's  Island, 
Virginia,  12  May,  1881,  W.  E.  D.  S.) 

Head :  Forehead,  crown  and  nuchal  crest  velvety  black.  This  cap  ex- 
tends down  on  the  sides  of  the  face  to  the  lower  edge  of  the  eye,  where  it 
terminates  abruptly.  Forward  of  the  eye  the  cap  occupies  rather  more 
than  half  of  the  loral  region. 


iy8  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

Upper  parts :  Mantle  and  wings  pearl  grey.  The  primary  quills  dusky, 
on  their  exposed  surface,  heavily  frosted  with  pearl  grey,  which  becomes 
less  obvious  with  the  seasonal  wear.  On  the  first  primary  the  white  of 
the  inner  web  extends  to  within  about  two  and  a  half  inches  of  the  tip 
and  cuts  a  distinct  color  wedge  into  the  dusky  portion  of  the  web.  This 
is  also  indicated  on  the  second  primary  and  less  plainly  on  the  third ;  it 
gradually  becomes  obsolete  on  the  others.  Shafts  of  the  first  six  primaries 
ivory  white.  This  character  varies  in  individuals,  some  showing  it  only 
on  the  first  four  quills. 

Tail :  Pearly  grey  like  the  rest  of  the  upper  parts  but  lighter  in  shade ; 
the  outer  feathers  incline  strongly  to  whitish. 

Lower  parts :  Ivory  white,  which  color  extends  on  the  sides  of  the  face 
to  the  lower  edge  of  the  eyes  and  also  occupies  the  lower  third  of  the 
loral  region. 

Bill:  Black  (sometimes  reddish  at  the  base). 

Iris :  Dark  hazel  brown. 

Tarsi  and  Feet :  Black,  often  with  a  reddish  tinge  on  the  toes  and  webs. 

Adult  female,  like  the  male  in  color  but  smaller  and  with  a  somewhat 
more  slender  bill. 

Adults  in  Winter. — Like  the  breeding  plumage,  but  lacking  the  black  on 
the  head.  The  region  occupied  by  the  cap  is  streaked  rather  obscurely  with 
dusky;  about  the  eye,  extending  from  the  loral  region  to  the  auriculars, 
this  streaking  is  concentrated  forming  a  more  or  less  well  defined  patch. 
(Adult  female  P.  U.  O.  C.  4248,  Cobbs  Island,  Virginia,  8  September, 
1881,  W.  E.  D.  S.) 

An  adult  male,  4246  P.  U.  O.  C.,  taken  at  the  same  locality  on  the 
same  day  has  the  cap  half  moulted,  but  still  clearly  defined,  mottled  with 
white. 

Young  birds  of  the  year  are  similar  in  appearance  to  winter  adults,  but 
the  streaking  on  the  head  is  greyer  and  less  well  defined,  the  ground  color 
of  the  head  being  white  with  a  decided  buff  tint.  The  back  at  this  time 
is  pale  buffy  white  and  pearl  intermixed.  (Female  of  the  year  4243,  P. 
U.  O.  C.  Cobbs  Island,  Virginia,  8  September,  1881,  W.  E.  D.  S.) 

A  half  grown  male  bird  (4197,  P.  U.  O.  C.  Cobbs  Island,  Virginia,  29 
August,  1 88 1,  W.  E.  D.  S.),  has  many  buffy  fawn  colored  feathers,  barred 
with  dusky  on  the  mantle,  the  tertials  and  some  of  the  scapulars  are  for 
the  most  part  pearl  grey,  but  each  feather  is  tipped  broadly  with  buffy 


AVES LARID^E.  I  79 

fawn  color  and  marked  in  this  area  is  a  well  defined  dusky  V,  directed 
to  the  point  of  feather.  The  head  is  decidedly  buffy  on  the  crown,  and 
each  buff  feather  has  a  dusky  streak  giving  the  whole  top  of  the  head  a 
striped  effect.  There  is  a  dusky  patch  in  the  auricular  region  extending 
to  the  eye,  a  little  below  it  but  not  in  front.  The  bill  is  yellowish  brown, 
and  the  feet  and  legs  brown. 

The  primaries  are  darker  than  in  adults,  and  have  ivory  white  shafts. 

Nestlings. --(No.  5393,  9,  P.  U.  O.  C.  Cobb's  Island,  Virginia,  26 
July,  1 88 1,  W.  E.  D.  S.)  Greyish  buff  above,  with  two  lines  of  dusky  spots 
on  the  back,  dusky  spotting  on  the  humeral  portion  of  each  wing  and  on 
the  back  of  the  neck  and  top  and  sides  of  the  head  down  to  the  eyes. 
The  lower  parts  and  terminal  point  of  the  wing  are  ivory  white.  Bill,  feet 
and  legs  yellowish  flesh  color.  This  bird  was  but  a  day  or  two  old  and 
still  retains  the  "egg-tooth"  at  the  extremity  of  the  upper  mandible. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Europe  below  55°  North  Latitude  in  summer ; 
temperate  Asia  and  Southern  China ;  Malay  Islands  to  Australia ;  North 
Africa  and  Egypt ;  Eastern  North  America,  regularly  north  to  Capes  of 
the  Delaware,  occasional  on  Long  Island,  New  York,  and  casual  on  the 
Massachusetts  coast.  Very  rare  inland.  On  the  South  American  Atlantic 
Coast  south  to  Southern  Argentina,  and  rare  or  not  recorded  on  the 
Pacific  except  on  the  coast  of  Guatemala. 

The  Gull-billed  Tern  was  not  noticed  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to 
Patagonia,  and  the  descriptions  are  based  chiefly  on  material  in  the 
Princeton  University  Museum  taken  at  Cobbs  Island,  coast  of  Virginia, 
during  1881  by  the  writer.  The  birds  were  breeding  at  that  point  then 
in  vast  numbers  and  varied  but  little  if  at  all  in  their  nesting  habits  from 
the  other  species  of  Terns,  S.  maxima,  S.  hirundo  and  S.  forsteri,  that  also 
bred  on  the  same  island  in  great  hosts.  Each  kind  of  Tern  had  its  own 
area  for  nesting  and  the  several  kinds  of  birds  breeding  did  not  affiliate. 

Three  eggs  are  frequently  laid,  but  the  usual  number  is  two,  and  some- 
times a  solitary  egg  is  hatched.  Little  or  no  attempt  at  building  a  nest  is 
made ;  a  hollow  in  the  sand  dunes  with  a  sparse  lining  of  seaweed  is  the 
greatest  elaboration,  but  most  birds  are  satisfied  apparently  with  a  shallow 
depression  on  the  ground. 


l8o  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

At  Cobb's  Island  the  first  eggs  were  laid  on  the  15  June  and  the  last 
nests  with  fresh  eggs  were  recorded  on  the  15  July.  In  appearance  the 
eggs  are  intermediate  between  those  of  characteristic  Terns  and  those  of 
typical  Gulls. 

Young  birds  were  first  noticed  on  June  30,  and  they  were  cared  for  by 
their  parents  till  about  six  weeks  old,  even  after  they  could  fly  well. 

Charles  Darwin  observed  these  birds  and  collected  at  least  one  skin  at 
Bahia  Blanca,  Southern  Argentina,  in  January,  1837,  and  the  birds  have 
been  taken  in  Northern  Patagonia  (Burmeister,  t.  c.  ante). 

Mr.  Howard  Saunders  remarks  that  "American  birds  are  often  slightly 
smaller  than  European  examples,  and  Australian  specimens  are  inclined 
to  be  larger,  but  there  are  numerous  exceptions  "  (Saunders,  t.  c.  p.  29). 

Genus  STERNA  Linnaeus. 

TYPE. 
Sterna,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  i,  p.  227  (1766) ;  Saunders,  Cat. 

Bds.  Brit.  Mus.,  XXV,  p.  40  (1896) ;  Sharpe,  Hand- 
List  Bds.  I.  p.  134  (1899) .  S.  "hirundo." 

Thalasseus,  Boie,  Isis,  1822,  p.  563  (pt.) 

Sternula,  Boie,  Isis,  1822,  p.  563  (pt.) S.  minuta. 

Actochelidon,  Kaup,  Natiirl.  Syst.  p.  31   (1829)     .     .     .  S.  cantiaca. 

Thalasscea,  Kaup,  Natiirl.  Syst.  p.  97  (1829)     .     .     .     .  S.  dougalli. 

Pelecanopus,  Wagler,  Isis,  1832,  pp.  277,  1225     .     .     .  S.  bergii. 

Onychoprion,  Wagler,  Isis,  1832,  p.  277 S.  fuliginosa. 

Planetis,  Wagler,  Isis,  1832,  p.  1222 S.  fiiliginosa. 

Haliplana,  Wagler,  Isis,  1832,  p.  1224 S.  fuliginosa. 

Hydrocecropis,  Boie,  Isis,  1844,  p.  179  (pt.) 

Thalassipora,  Boie,  teste  Riipp.  Syst.  Uebers.  p.  1 40  ( 1 845)  S.  fuliginosa. 

Melanosterna,  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  Beng.  XV,  p.  373  (1846)  .  S.  ancestheta. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Cosmopolitan. 

STERNA  HIRUNDINACEA  Lesson. 

Sterna  hirundinacea,  Less.  Traite  d'Orn.  p.  621  (1831  :  Santa  Catarina) ; 
Puch.  Rev.  Zool.  1850,  p.  539;  Saunders,  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  647; 
Durnf.  Ibis,  1877,  p.  43  (Chupat  Valley,  breeding,  Nov.),  1878,  p. 
404  (Lake  Colguape:  Sengel  River:  Tambo  Point,  breeding,  Dec.); 


-- 


AVES LARIDyE.  1 8 1 

Milne  Edwards,  Bibl.  Haut.  XXI,  Art.  4,  p.  32  (1880);  Saunders, 
Voy.  Chall.  II,  Birds,  p.  135  (1881  :  Messier,  Channel,  Elizabeth 
Island,  Jan.) ;  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  16  (Tom  Bay,  Nov. :  Cockle 
Cove,  Oct.);  Saunders,  P.  Z.  S.  1882,  p.  522  (Chile);  McFarlane, 
Ibis,  1887,  p.  208  (Chimbote) ;  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires, 
III,  partX,  p.  248  (1888:  Coast  of  Patagonia) ;  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent. 
Orn.  II,  p.  196  (1889:  Falkland  Islands  and  Patagonia);  Oust.  Miss. 
Sci.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  183,  332  (1891  .  Orange  Bay:  Oush- 
ouaia) ;  James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  12  (1892);  Saunders,  Cat.  Bds. 
Brit.  Mus.  XXV,  p.  52  (1896:  Port  Desire;  Port  Santa  Cruz,  Pata- 

FIG.   no. 


Sterna  hirundinacea.     Adult  male.     Natural  size.     From  material  in  British  Museum. 


gonia:  Uranie  Bay,  Falkland  Is.);  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV, 
p.  658  (1898:  Calbuco,  Dec.) ;  Sharpe,  Hand-1.  Bds.  i,  p.  134  (1899) ; 
Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX,  p.  630  (1900:  Rio  de  la  Plata, 
Aug.) ;  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  16  (1900:  Falkland 
Islands);  Oats,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs.,  Brit.  Mus.  I,  p.  182  (1901);  Nicoll, 
Ibis,  1904,  p.  43  ;  id.  Zoologist  1904,  p.  406  (Straits  of  Magellan). 

?  Sterna  minuta  (lapsu  Cal.  ?),  Less.  Hist.  Nat.  Mamm.  et  Ois.  p.  155  (1834  : 
Falkland  Is.). 

Sterna  meridionalis  Cass.  (nee  Brehm),  U.  S.  Expl.  Exped.  p.  385  (1858: 
Orange  Bay,  Cape  Horn);  Schl.  Mus.  Pays.  Bas.  VI.  Sternae,  p.  15 
(1863:  Falkland  Is.  and  Chile). 

Sterna  antarctica  Peale  (nee  Less,  nee  Forst.  nee  Wagl.),  U.  S.  Expl. 
Exped.  p.  280  (1848:  Orange  Bay,  Cape  Horn);  Phil.  &  Landb. 
Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  49  (1868). 

Sterna  cassini,  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  391  (Falkland  Islands);  Abbott, 
Ibis,  1 86 1,  p.  1 66  (Falkland  Is.  breeding);  Pelz.  Reis.  Novara,  Vog. 


1 82  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

p.  135  (1865:  Isl.  of  Chiloe);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Ibis,  1869,  p.  284  (St. 
lago  Bay,  Dec.),  1870,  p.  500  (Coquimbo,  Aug.);  iid.  P.  Z.  S.  1871, 
p.  570  (Falkland  Is.  and  Straits  of  Magellan) ;  Cunningh.  Nat.  Hist. 
Str.  Magell.  pp.  74,  404  (1871 :  Santiago  Bay) ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl. 
Av.  Neotr.  p.  147  (1873);  iid.  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  147. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size  (adult). — Total  length,  16  to  16.5  inches. 

Wing,  1 1. 8  inches. 

Tail,  outer  feathers,  7.0  inches. 

Tail,  depth  of  fork,  3.9  to  4.0  inches. 

Oilmen,  1.75  inches. 

Tarsus,  0.8  inches. 

Color  (adult  breeding).  —  General  color  above  pale  pearl  grey  ;  a  black 
cap  ;  below  lighter  pearl  grey,  becoming  white  posteriorly. 

Head  :  A  black  cap  reaches  from  the  forehead  to  the  occiput,  including 
the  greater  portion  of  the  lores.  This  cap  is  bordered  by  a  pure  white 
streak  from  the  gape  backward. 

Neck  :  Pale  pearl  grey  above,  lighter  beneath. 

Back  (mantle):  Pale  pearl  grey.     Rump  white. 

Wings  :  Like  the  mantle,  the  inner  primaries  and  secondaries  broadly 
margined  with  white. 

Tail :  White,  the  outer  webs  with  a  pale  grey  tinge. 

Lower  parts  :  Pale  pearl  grey,  lighter  than  the  mantle  and  becoming 
pure  white  in  the  region  of  the  vent  and  lower  tail  coverts. 

Bill :  Vermilion.     Legs  and  feet  vermilion.     Iris  brown. 

"Male:  Tom  Bay,  November  30,  1879.     Bill,  legs,  and  feet  red. 

"Female:  Cockle  Cove,  October  16,  1879.  Bill  and  legs  red;  claws 
black;  iris  dark."  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  16." 

Adults  in  winter  differ  in  being  slightly  paler  above  ;  the  crown  is 
mottled  with  white,  and  the  under  parts  are  nearly  or  quite  white.  This 
plumage  is  very  transitory. 

Young  birds  of  the  year  are  similar  to  the  adults  in  winter,  but  have 
more  grey  on  the  rectrices  and  the  outer  webs  of  the  primaries  are  much 
deeper  grey.  Bill,  legs  and  feet  reddish  brown.  Younger  birds  have  a 
brownish  bar  across  the  upper  wing  coverts  and  the  mantle  is  barred 


AVES L  ARI D/E.  1 83 

irregularly  with  dusky,  buff  and  white.  In  this  phase  the  bill  is  dusky ; 
feet  and  legs  yellowish  brown.  Nestlings  are  olive  brown  above,  mottled 
with  dusky  umber;  the  throat  is  pale  smoky  black  and  the  rest  of  the 
under  parts  are  greyish  white. 

Geographical  Range.  —  South  America.  Breeding  from  Rio  de  Janeiro 
to  the  Straits  of  Magellan.  Also  breeds  in  the  Falkland  Islands,  South 
Georgia,  the  South  Shetland  Islands  and  the  land  to  the  south  of  Cape 
Horn  and  on  the  Pacific  Coast  of  South  America  north  to  Peru. 


The  description  is  based  on  material  in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  the  birds  not  being  obtained  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to 
Patagonia.  However,  it  is  a  common  bird  and  breeds  at  many  points  on 
the  coast  of  this  region,  Bahia  Blanca,  Chupat,  Port  Santa  Cruz,  Elizabeth 
Island,  Port  Desire,  Sandy  Point,  Tom  Bay  and  Cockle  Cove  being 
some  of  the  points  from  which  this  tern  has  been  recorded. 

From  many  sources  we  know  that  the  eggs  are  used  as  food  and  one 
of  the  most  graphic  accounts  of  the  nidification  and  general  breeding 
economy  of  this  species  is  appended.  In  "Mission  Scientifique  du  Cap 
Horn,  1882-1883,  Tome  VI,  premiere  partie,  page  184  (1891)"  Dr. 
Oustalet  says : 

"  Des  notes  que  je  viens  de  citer,  des  observations  de  M.  Durnford  et 
de  1'examen  des  oiseaux  qui  ont  ete  rapportes  par  1'expedition  francaise 
on  pourrait  deja  conclure  que  la  saison  de  la  nidification,  pour  cette 
Hirondelle  de  mer,  commence  vers  le  mois  de  novembre  et  se  continue 
jusqu'en  Janvier.  Les  naturalistes  du  Challenger  qui  se  trouvaient,  durant 
cette  periode  de  1'annee,  correspondant  a  notre  printemps,  dans  les 
parages-  du  detroit  de  Magellan,  ont  en  effet  recueilli  un  assez  grand 
nombre  d'oeufs  de  Sterna  hirundinacea,  que  M.  H.  Saunders  a  pu  etudier 
et  qui  lui  ont  offert  les  memes  variations  de  couleur  et  de  dessin  que  les 
ceufs  des  Sterna  macrura  tf.flu'viatilis.  Ces  variations  ont  ete  constatees 
egalement  par  M.  H.  Durnford  qui  a  visite,  a  la  fin  du  mois  de  decembre 
1877,  une  colonie  de  Sterna  hirundinacea  situee  a  Tombo  Point,  a  60 
milles  environ  au  sud  de  la  station  de  Chuput  (ou  Chupat).  Cette  colonie 
dont  on  lui  avait  sigriale  1'existence,  depassait  en  etendue  tout  ce  qu'il 
avait  pu  imaginer.  Les  nids  couvraient  un  espace  de  150  yards  carres,  ce 


1  84  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

qui,  a  raison  de  3  nids  par  yard  et  de  5  ceufs  par  nid  (chiffres  sans  doute 
au-dessous  de  la  verite,  puisque,  dit  M.  Durnford,  on  ne  pouvait  guere 
faire  un  pas  sans  ecraser  des  reufs),  donnait  un  total  de  67,500  nids, 
135,000  oiseaux  et  102,500  oeufs!"  (Apparently  a  printer's  mistake 
makes  the  total  number  of  eggs  in  the  colony  102,500  when  it  should  be 


Dr.  Cunningham  in  his  notes  on  the  Natural  History  of  the  Strait  of 
Magellan  and  West  Coast  of  Patagonia,  page  74  (1871)  writes:  "It  was 
now  nearly  low  tide,  and  a  large  Spit,  from  which  the  name  Punta  Arenas 
is  derived,  was  consequently  uncovered,  and  at  its  outer  extremity  a  flock 
of  Terns  (Sterna  cassint]  with  black-crowned  heads  and  pale  ash-colored 
and  white  bodies,  were  busily  engaged  in  feeding  where  a  bed  of  small 
mussels  (Mytihis  Chilensis]  extended.  The  birds  allowed  me  to  approach 
them  rather  near,  and  then  rose  in  a  body  into  the  air,  flying  about  in 
a  cloud  over  my  head,  and  uttering  a  torrent  of  sharp  angry  cries,  indig- 
nant at  the  stranger  who  had  ventured  to  disturb  them  at  their  meal." 
S.  cassini  of  Dr.  Cunningham  is  known  to  be  the  species  under  con- 
sideration. 

"I  saw  a  Tern  off  the  coast-  of  the  Banda  Oriental  on  the  afternoon  of 
ist  October  which  was,  I  am  pretty  sure,  of  this  species.  On  the  loth 
June,  when  off  the  coast,  I  observed  a  small  flock  of  the  same.  This  was 
in  the  forenoon;  at  noon  we  were  113  knots  distant  from  Montevideo." 
(O.  V.  Alpin,  on  birds  Uruguay,  Ibis,  p.  210,  1894.) 

"  This  Tern  was  abundant  in  the  Straits  of  Magellan,  especially  off 
Dungeness  Point,  at  the  eastern  extremity,  where  I  saw  hundreds  as  we 
steamed  past.  I  shot  two  adult  examples  from  the  beach  near  Punta 
Arenas,  where  I  found  a  fair  number  of  individuals.  I  brought  them 
within  shot  by  knocking  two  large  flints  together  —  a  very  good  way  to 
attract  Terns."  (M.  J.  Nicoll,  Orn.  Jour.  Voy.  round  World,  Ibis,  Jan. 
1904,  p.  43.) 

"  On  Jan.  29th  we  went  through  the  first  narrows  and  passed  Elizabeth 
Island,  and  then  went  through  the  second  narrows,  where  we  passed  hun- 
dreds of  Terns  (Sterna  hirundinacea],  Penguins,  Albatrosses  (Diomedea 
melanophrys],  and  Diving  Petrels.  There  was  one  Giant  Petrel.  On  the 
shore  we  could  see  many  Huanacos  walking  about.  In  the  afternoon  we 
arrived  at  Punta  Arenas,  the  only  town  in  the  Straits.  Here  I  found  that 
shooting  birds  was  forbidden  ;  however,  I  managed  to  get  permission 


AVES LARID^E.  1 85 

from  the  Governor  to  collect  a  few.  The  hills  behind  the  town  are  cov- 
ered with  forests  of  beech  trees  (Fagus  antarctica}.  We  left  Punta  Arenas 
on  Feb.  3rd."  (M.  J.  Nicoll,  Orn.  Jour.  Voy.  round  World,  Ibis,  Jan. 
1904,  p.  41-42-) 

STERNA  MAXIMA  Boddaert. 

Hirondelle  de  Mer  de  Cayenne,  D'Aubent,  PL  Enl.  IX,  pi.  988. 
Grande   Hirondelle  de  Mer  de  Cayenne,  Buff.  FlG   MI 

Hist.  Nat.  Ois.  VIII,  p.346  (1783). 
Sterna    maxima,   Bodd.   Tabl.    PL    Enl.    p.  58 

(1783);  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  8.1871,  p.  567; 

iid.    Nomencl.  Av.    Neotr.   p.    147  (1873); 

Saunders,  P.  Z.  S.    1876,  p.  655,  1882,  p. 

521;   Burm.  An.  Mus.   Nac.  Buenos  Aires, 

III,  part  X,  p.  248  (1888:  North  and  Cen-       Sterna  maxima.    Profiie  of 

tral    Patagonia) ;    Scl.    &    Huds.    Argent,    head.  Adult  male.  4773  P.  U. 

Orn.    II.,    p.    195  (1889);    Saunders,  Cat.    O.  C.  Breeding.  About  %  nat- 

Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV. ,  p.  80  ( 1 896) ;  Sharpe,    ural  size" 

Hand-List,  Bds.  I.  p.  135  (1899) ;  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus. 

I.  p.  187  (1901). 
Cayenne  Tern,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn,  III.  pt.  2,  p.  352  (1785). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.  —  Adult,    Breeding.      (Male,  4773,    P.   U.  O.  C.  Cobbs   Island, 
Virginia,  16  May,  1881,  W.  E.  D.  S.).     Total  length,  about  21  inches. 

Wing,  14.2  inches. 

Tail,  8.1  inches. 

Tail  .(depth  of  fork),  3.7  inches. 

Culmen,  2.75  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.4  inches. 

Color.  —  Adult,  breeding  (spec.  cit).  General  color  above  pearl  grey, 
white  on  neck  and  with  black  cap ;  below  pure  white. 

Head :  With  a  black  cap,  reaching  down  on  sides  to  a  line  level  with 
the  lower  eyelid,  which  is  white,  interrupting  the  continuity  of  the  line  of 
the  cap.  The  black  of  the  cap  occupies  the  upper  half  of  the  loral  region. 
The  feathers  of  the  occipital  portion  of  the  cap  are  acuminate  and  pro- 


1 86  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

• 

longed.     Remainder  of  head,  /.  e.,  lower. sides  of  face,  the  auricular  region 
and  lower  half  of  the  loral  region  white. 
Neck :  Wholly  white. 

Back :  Mantle  pearl  grey ;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  pale  pearl  grey. 
Wing :  In  general  color  pearl  grey,  with  a  decided  white  line  along  the 
carpal  joint.  The  first  primary  dark  grey  on  outer  web,  heavily  frosted 
with  pearl  grey ;  a  third  of  the  inner  web  dark  grey  to  tip,  frosted  like  the 
outer  web.  Remainder  of  inner  web,  abruptly  whiter,  the  line  of  division 
between  the  two  colors  absolutely  straight  for  the  entire  length.  The  white 

on  the  inner  webs  of  the  rest  of  the  primaries  cut- 
ting into  the  grey  of  the  inner  web  toward  the  tip 
in  well-defined  wedges.  The  extreme  edge  of  all 
the  inner  webs  of  the  primaries  at  their  ends,  nar- 
rowly margined  with  white.  Shafts  of  all  the  pri- 
maries ivory  white.  The  secondaries  are  edged 
with  white,  but  not  conspicuously. 

Sterna  maxima.  Profile  Tail :  Pearly  white.  Under  parts :  Pure  white, 
of  head.  Female.  4770  Bill :  Reddish  orange.  Tarsi:  Black.  Feet:  Black. 
P.U.OC.  Winter  plum-  Iris :  Dark  hazel  brown. 

age.    About  K  natural  size.  •      «•  «•          r  •.'•«_• 

The  female  differs  from  the  male  in  having  on 

the  average  a  stouter  bill  and  shorter  streamers  to  the  tail.  Both  sexes 
begin  to  have  a  few  white  feathers  show  on  forehead  and  crown  early 
in  the  breeding  season. 

Adults  in  autumn  and  winter  (Female,  4770,  P.  U.  O.  C,  Gulf  coast 
of  Florida,  15  December,  1879,  W.  E.  D.  S.),  are  similar  to  breeding 
birds,  but  have  the  forehead  and  loral  region  wholly  white,  the  crown 
mottled  with  black  feathers,  and  the  long  occipital  feathers  edged  with 
white  in  a  varying  degree.  Bill  pale  orange.  There  is  generally  a 
crescentic  black  area  just  in  front  of  the  eye.  Immature  young  birds  of 
the  year  have  whiter  crowns  and  a  greater  admixture  of  white  in  the  black 
feathers  of  the  occipital  region.  There  is  also  a  varying  amount  of  grey 
or  brownish  grey  on  the  wing  coverts,  the  secondaries,  and  toward  the 
tips  of  the  rectrices. 

Young  birds  fully  grown  have  dusky  brown  streaks  on  the  lores,  the 
forehead  and  fore  part  of  the  crown ;  the  mantle  is  darker  than  in  adults, 
more  or  less  striated  and  marked  with  deeper  grey,  dusky  and  buffy ;  this 
extends  to  the  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts.  The  primaries  are  iron-grey, 


AVES LARIDyE.  1 87 

tail  much  darker  than  in  the  adult,  especially  toward  the  extremities  of  the 
feathers.     The  bill,  tarsi  and  feet  are  dull  brownish  yellow. 

Geographical  Range.  — America  ;  Atlantic  coast,  breeding  from  the 
Capes  of  the  Delaware  south  to  the  West  Indies  and  ranging  as  far  north 
as  the  New  England  States  ;  also  to  the  larger  inland  waters  of  the  United 
States  during  the  warmer  months. 

On  the  Pacific  coast  the  birds  range  from  California  southward  to  Peru. 
During  the  winter  months  they  are  distributed  on  the  Atlantic  from  the 
Carolinas  southward  ;  and  at  this  season  they  are  also  found  on  the 
African  Coast  from  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar  south  to  Angola.  They  have 
been  recorded  from  Northern  and  Central  Patagonia.  (Burm.  t.  c.  ante, 
p.  248.) 

The  Royal  Tern  was  not  obtained  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to  Pat- 
agonia. The  descriptions  are  based  on  the  individuals  cited,  together 
with  the  large  series  in  the  Princeton  Museum,  and  on  material  'in  the 
British  Museum  of  Natural  History. 

The  breeding  habits  of  the  Royal  Tern  do  not  differ  from  its  congeners 
of  terrestrial  habit.  At  Cobbs  Island,  on  the  coast  of  Virginia,  during  the 
season  of  1881,  these  birds  were  abundant  and  bred  in  great  numbers. 
The  eggs  were  laid  in  depressions  in  the  bare  sand  and  were  often  near 
together,  the  adult  birds  being  eminently  gregarious. 


STERNA  SUPERCILIARIS  Vieillot. 

Hati  ceja  blanca,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  377  (1802). 

Hati  manckado,  Azara,  torn  cit.  p.  377. 

Sterna  superciliaris,  Vieill.  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  XXXII.  p.  126  (1819: 

ex  Azara);  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1871,  p.  571  ;  iid.   Nomencl.  Av. 

Neotr.  p.   147  (1873);  Saunders,  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  662;  Durnf.  Ibis, 

1876,  p.  165  (Montevideo,   May),  1877,  p.  201  (Baradero,  April); 

White,   P.  Z.  S.  1882,  p.  628  (Missiones);    Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent. 

Orn.  II.  p.   197  (1889);  Saunders,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  124 

(1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-Lists  Bds.  I.  p.  137  (1899);  Oates,  Cat.  Bds. 

Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  p.  195  (1901). 


1 88  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Sterna  maculata,  Vieill.  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  XXXII.  p.  176  (1819:  ex 

Azara). 
Sterna  argentea,  Hartl.  Ind.  Azara,  p.  26  (1847);  Burm.  Reis.  La  Plata, 

II.  p.  419  (1861 :  Rio  Parana). 

FIG.  113. 


Sterna  superciliaris.     Adult  male.     Natural  size.     From  material  in  British  Museum. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  (breeding).     Total  length,  9  inches. 

Wing,  7.25  inches. 

Tail,  3.25  inches. 

Tail  (depth  of  fork),  1.3  inches. 

Culmen,  1.5  inches. 

Tarsus,  0.65  inches. 

Color. — Adult  (breeding).  Above,  mantle,  wings  and  neck  rather  dark 
pearl  grey.  A  black  cap  on  head.  Below  pure  white. 

Head :  With  a  black  cap  extending  from  forehead  back  to  nape,  and  on 
sides  of  head  to  a  line  even  with  the  lower  eyelid.  Forehead  white, 
extending  back  in  a  broad  band  to  the  middle  of  the  upper  eyelid.  (See 
cut  113.)  The  lores  white,  divided  by  a  narrow  black  streak  reaching 
from  the  eye  to  upper  part  of  the  upper  mandible.  The  remainder  of 
sides  of  head  and  face  white. 

Neck:  Deep  pearl  grey  above,  shading  gradually  on  the  sides  into 
white ;  below  pure  white. 

Back :  Mantle,  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  deep  pearl  grey. 

Wings :  Deep  pearl  grey,  with  a  brownish  tinge  on  the  inner  second- 
aries. ^\\tfour  outer  primaries,  almost  wholly  dusky  black,  with  narrow 
white  margins  on  the  inner  webs  of  the  first  two,  and  very  little  white  on 
the  third  and  fourth. 

Tail :  Like  back,  but  with  faint  whitish  edging  to  each  feather ;  the 
streamers  paler  and  with  a  greater  inclination  toward  whitish. 


AVES LARID^E.  1 89 

Bill :  Stout  and  deep  at  base  and  entirely  greenish  yellow,  without  black 
tip.  Tarsi :  Dull  yellow.  Feet :  Dull  yellow.  Iris :  Dark  hazel  brown. 

Adiilt.  Autumnal  and  winter  plumage.  —  Similar  to  the  breeding 
dress  but  with  the  black  loral  streak  broken  into  black  dotting  or  specks ; 
the  black  of  the  cap  much  flecked  and  spotted  with  white  feathers. 

Immature  birds  of  the  year  in  fall.  —  Like  adults,  except  the  lores  are 
wholly  white ;  forehead  white ;  crown  grey  with  dusky  streaks ;  around 
the  eye  these  being  concentrated  form  a  broad  dusky  band  on  each  side 
of  the  head,  which  reaching  back  joins  on  the  nape ;  the  primaries  have  a 
browner  shade ;  the  bill  is  dull  yellow  with  a  brownish  horn  tip. 

Young.  Flight  age.  —  Lores  greyish;  a  marked  whitish  superciliary 
stripe ;  crown  darker  than  lores,  specked  with  dark  brown ;  a  blackish 
band  extending  from  eye  to  eye,  across  the  nape ;  mantle  grey,  shaded 
with  buffy  and  barred  with  ashy  grey ;  tail  mottled  with  ashy  on  a  grey 
ground ;  base  of  bill  dull  yellow  shading  into  horn  color ;  tarsi  and  toes 
dull  yellowish. 

Geographical  Range. — South  America.  From  the  Orinoco  to  the  La 
Plata,  ascending  rivers  well  into  the  interior ;  Northern  Patagonia. 


This  small  tern  was  not  obtained  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to  Pata- 
gonia, where  it  is  apparently  uncommon  if  not  rare.  The  diagnoses  and 
descriptions  of  different  plumages  are  based  on  material  in  the  British 
Museum  of  Natural  History.  Closely  allied  to  S.  antillarwn,  the  changes 
in  plumage  due  to  age,  and  correlated  with  the  seasons  are  very  similar 
in  both  species,  but  the  difference  in  size  and  the  color  of  the  primaries 
serve  at  all  times  in  readily  distinguishing  the  two  species  whose  geo- 
graphical ranges  almost  or  quite  meet. 

"Of  these,  three  or  four  were  observed  wheeling  about  over  the  river 
Saima,  about  a  league  up  it  from  the  Parana.  They  have  a  sprawling, 
quick  flight,  settling  now  and  again  on  the  rocks  on  the  edge  of  the  river. 
Dashing  down  and  skimming  the  water,  they  dip  every  now  and  again 
for  fish,  after  which  they  rise  high  in  the  air."  (E.  W.  White,  P.  Z.  S. 
p.  628,  1882.) 


190  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

STERNA  TRUDEAUII  Audubon. 

Sterna  trudeauii,  Audub.  Orn.  Biogr.  V.  p.  125  (1839);  Des  Murs  in 
Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  484  (1847);  phil-  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av. 
Chil.  p.  49  (1868:  Santiago:  Colchagua) ;  Durnf.  Ibis,  1876,  p.  165 
(Monte  Video,  May),  1877,  p.  200  (Flores  Isl.  mouth  of  La  Plata, 
March ;  Punta  Lara) ;  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part 
X.  p.  248  (1888:  Coast  of  Northern  Patagonia);  Scl.  &  Huds. 
Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  195  (1889:  Punta  Lara);  Holland,  Ibis,  1890,  p. 
428  (Buenos  Ayres  breeds);  Saunders,  P.  Z.  S.  1891,  p.  373  (Ar- 
gentina); James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  12  (1892);  Holland,  Ibis, 
1892,  p.  212,  Estancia  Espartilla,  common,  breeds  in  Nov.);  Saun- 
ders, Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  130  (1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List 
Bds.  I.  p.  137  (1899);  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I,  p.  196 
(1901). 

Phaetusa  sellovii,  Licht.  Nomencl.  Av.  Mus.  Berol.  p.  98  (1854:  Mal- 
donado). 

Sterna  frobeenii,  Phil.  &  Landb.  Weigm.  Arch.  1863,  p.  125  (Arica  Bay, 
Sept.);  iid.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  49  (1868). 

FIG.  1 14. 


Sterna  trudeauii.    Adult  male.    About       natural  size.    From  material  in  American  Museum. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.  —  Adult  (breeding).     Total  length,  about  15  inches. 

Wing,  10.5  inches. 

Tail,  5.8  inches. 

Tail  (depth  of  fork),  2.8  inches. 


AVES LARID^E.  1 9 1 

Oilmen,  1.7  inches. 

Tarsus,  0.95  inches. 

Color.  —  Adult  (breeding).  General  color  above  pearl  grey  becoming 
white  on  the  crown  and  nape ;  lower  parts  pale  pearl  shading  to  white  on 
the  throat  and  chin. 

Head  :  White,  with  a  black  streak  beginning  in  front  of  the  eye,  which 
it  surrounds,  and  extending  backward  over  the  ear  coverts. 

Neck:  Pearl  grey. 

Back :  Mantle  pearl  grey  fading  to  nearly  white  on  the  rump  and  upper 
tail  coverts. 

Wing :  Rather  paler  than  the  mantle ;  secondaries  broadly  edged  with 
white,  the  inner  primaries  to  a  lesser  degree ;  the  outer  primaries,  with 
the  inner  webs,  pale  grey  next  to  the  shafts  and  dark  grey  on  the  mar- 
gins, the  "wedges"  nearly  white.  Shafts  of  quills  white. 

Tail :  Pale  pearl  grey,  the  longer  rectrices  with  silvery  white  outer  webs. 

Lower  parts :  Pale  pearl  grey  shading  into  pure  white  on  the  throat 
and  chin. 

Bill  :  Yellow,  darkest  at  the  base,  shading  to  lighter  toward  the  tip,  and 
with  a  black  band  at  the  gonys.  Tarsi :  Orange.  Feet :  Orange. 

FIG.   115. 


Sterna  trudeaui.  Young  Male,  winter.  Profile  of  head.  From  material  in  the  American 
Museum.  Natural  size. 

Adult  in  autumn  and  early  winter. — Similar  to  breeding  birds,  except 
that  the  band  on  the  side  of  the  head  is  not  so  well  defined,  and  has 
become  deep  grey  instead  of  black.  The  feathers  in  general  have  a  more 
silvery  appearance,  this  being  especially  noticeable  in  the  quills  which  are 
heavily  "frosted"  with  silvery  white. 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Immature  birds  in  autumn  and  winter  vary  from  adults  at  these  sea- 
sons in  having  the  centers  of  the  long  inner  secondaries  ashy-grey.  The 
eye  streak  is  more  pronounced  and  deeper  in  color.  The  bill  is  dull  yel- 
lowish brown  at  the  base  and  yellow  at  the  tip. 

Young  birds,  first  flight,  have  the  eye  streak  longer  with  an  indication 
of  a  grey  crescentic  band  across  the  nape.  The  crown  is  greyish,  slightly 
mottled  with  buffy  brown,  as  are  the  feathers  of  the  mantle.  The  tail 
feathers  are  dark  ashy  grey  with  defined  white  edgings.  The  bill  is  yel- 
lowish brown  at  the  base  and  dusky  or  blackish  for  the  rest  of  its  length 
without  a  yellow  tip.  The  legs  and  feet  are  yellowish  flesh  color. 

Geographical  Range. — Atlantic  coast  of  South  America  from  Rio  Jan- 
eiro to  Argentina,  and  north  casually  to  the  United  States  (Long  Island 
and  New  Jersey).  On  the  Pacific  coast  of  South  America  the  Chilian 
coast  north  to  Southern  Peru. 


Trudeau's  tern  was  not  obtained  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to  Pata- 
gonia and,  while  it  is  known  to  occur  on  the  northern  portion  of  the  coast, 
it  is  very  rare,  if  found  at  all,  far  south  in  the  region. 

The  descriptions  are  based  on  the  material  in  the  British  Museum  of 
Natural  History. 

Curiously,  this  South  American  species  which  must  be  regarded  as  acci- 
dental in  the  United  States,  was  first  described  by  John  James  Audubon 
in  his  Ornithological  Autobiography.  He  says  (t.  c.  p.  125):  "This 
beautiful  Tern,  which  has  not  hitherto  been  described,  was  procured  at 
Great  Egg  Harbour  in  New  Jersey,  by  my  much  esteemed  and  talented 
friend,  J.  Trudeau,  Esq.,  of  Louisiana,  to  whom  I  have  great  pleasure  in 
dedicating  it.  Nothing  is  known  as  to  its  range,  or  even  the  particular 
habits  in  which  it  may  differ  from  other  species.  The  individual  obtained 
was  in  the  company  of  a  few  others  of  the  same  kind.  I  have  received 
from  Mr.  Trudeau  an  intimation  of  the  occurrence  of  several  individuals 
on  Long  Island." 

In  its  winter  plumage,  which  was  that  of  the  type  described  by  Audubon, 
Trudeau's  Tern  somewhat  resembles  the  winter  plumage  of  Sterna  for steri, 
but  this  last  bird  always  shows  more  marked  coloration  on  the  crown.  The 
eye  bar  of  Sterna  forsteri  is  darker  and  better  defined  in  winter  and.  the  bill 
of  S.forsteriftevtr  has  a  yellow  tip.  I  have  before  me  forty-one  examples 


AVES LARID^E.  1 93 

of  S.  forsteri,  taken  on  the  Gulf  coast  of  Florida  in  November  and  De- 
cember, 1879,  and  January,  1880,  which  form  a  part  of  the  large  series  of 
these  birds  in  the  Princeton  University  collection.  This  entire  series  of 
winter  examples  of  Sterna  forsteri  bear  out  the  generalization  just  set 
forth.  Moreover,  the  individual  variation  is  not  great. 

Subfamily  RHYNCHOPIN^E. 

Saunders,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV,  p.  152  (1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List 
Bds.  I.  p.  138  (1899). 

Genus  RHYNCHOPS  Linnseus. 

Type. 

Rhynchops,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  223  (1766);  Saunders,  Cat. 
Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  152  (1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List 
Bds.  I.  p.  138  (1899) R.  nigra. 

Rhynchopsalia,  Gloger,  Hand-  u.  Hilfsb.  p.  463  (1842). 

Geographical  Range. — Temperate    and    tropical    North    and    South 
America,     Tropical  and  juxta-tropical  Africa  and  India  to  Burma. 


RHYNCHOPS  MELANURA  Swainson. 

Rayador,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  329  (1802). 

Rhynchops  nigra,  Licht  Verz.  Doubl.  p.  80  (1823  :  ex  Azara) ;  Less.  Man. 
d'Orn.  II.  p.  285  (1828:  Chile);  Darwin,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p.  143 
(1841  :  on  the  east  and  west  coasts  of  South  America  between  lati- 
tudes 30°  and  45°)  ;  Fraser,  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  p.  119  (coast  of  Chile); 
Hartl.  Ind.  Azara,  p.  26  (1847)  >  Burm.  La  Plata  Reis.  II.  p.  520 
(1861  :  Rio  Parana);  Pelz.  Reis.  Novara,  Vog.  p.  151  (1865:  Chile); 
Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  50  (1868);  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S. 
1869,  p.  634  (Arg.  Rep.);  iid.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  147  (1873); 
Durnf.  Ibis,  1877,  P-  2O°  (Buenos  Ayres,  Nov.,  Jan.) ;  White,  P  Z. 
S.  1882,  p.  628  (Monte  Grand,  Buenos  Ayres,  Feb.,  not  common); 
Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Ayres,  III.  part  X.  p.  248  (1888: 
Patagonia);  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  193  (1889:  Bahia 
Blanca,  breeding). 


194 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 


Rhynchops  melanura,  Swains.  Classif.  B.  II.  p.  373  (1837);  Scl.  &  Salv. 
Ibis,  1869,  p.  284  (Ancud,  Chiloe,  May) ;  Saunders,  P.  Z.  S.  1882,  p. 
522  (Coquimbo  Bay,  Nov.);  James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  12  (1892); 
Saunders,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  156  (1896:  Straits  of  Ma- 
gellan and  Coast  of  Chile) ;  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  138  (1899) ; 
Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  201  (1901). 

FIG.  1 1 6. 


Rhynchops  melanura.     Adult  male.     About   %  natural  size.     From  material  in  American 
Museum. 

FIG.   117. 


Rhynchops  melanura.    Profile  of  head.     From  material  in  the  American  Museum.     ^  natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 
Size.  —  Adult  male  (breeding). 
Wing,  16-17  inches. 
Tail,  5.5  to  6  inches. 


Total  length,  about  20  inches. 


AVES LARID/G.  1 95 

Oilmen,  4  inches. 
Bill  (tip  to  gonys),  4.9  inches. 
Tarsus,  1.4  inches. 

Female  smaller,  only  about  16.5  inches  total  length,  the  culmen  being 
2.7  to  2.8  compared  with  4  inches  for  culmen  in  male. 

FIG.  118. 


Rhynchops  melanura.     Bill  from  above.     From  material  in  the  American  Museum.     Natural  size. 

Color.  — Adult  male  (breeding).  General  color  of  the  upper  parts  black, 
of  the  lower  parts  white. 

Head:  Forehead  (to  the  depth  of  an  inch),  lores  and  sides  of  face  from 
just  below  the  eye  white.  Crown  and  remainder  of  head  black. 

Neck :  Black  above  and  abruptly  white  on  sides  and  beneath. 

Back :  Mantle,  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  black,  with  a  brown  tinge. 

Wing :  Black  with  a  brown  tinge ;  the  primaries  black,  the  three  or  four 
outer  ones  with  the  tips  and  terminal  margins  white ;  the  secondaries  with 
a  narrow  white  end  to  each  feather ;  no  other  wing  feathers  with  white 
markings. 

Tail :  Dark  blackish  brown  on  its  upper  surface,  with  very  narrow 
white  edging;  paler  brown  on  its  under  surfaces. 

Lower  parts  white,  except  the  under  wing  coverts,  which  are  greyish 
brown. 

Bill :  Reddish  orange,  yellow  at  the  base,  anterior  portion  black. 
Tarsi :  Dull  orange,  shaded  with  black.  Feet :  Toes  and  webs  dull 
orange,  shaded  with  black.  Iris :  Dark  hazel  brown. 

I  have  been  unable  to  examine  the  winter  phase  of  the  adult  plumage, 
and  have  seen  no  immature,  young  or  nestlings.  All  of  these  phases  of 
plumage,  however,  are  probably  similar  to  those  of  R.  nigra,  with  which 
this  species  has  frequently  been  confused  even  down  to  within  a  few  years. 


196  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Geographical  Range. — Coast,  rivers  and  larger  inland  bodies  of  water 
of  South  America.  Lake  Titicaca.  Straits  of  Magellan.  Coasts  of  Pat- 
agonia and  Chili.  The  coast  of  Peru.  Probably  resident  and  breeding 
almost  throughout  its  range. 


FIG.  119. 


Rhynchops  melanura.     Left  foot.     From  a  specimen  in  American  Museum.     Natural  size. 

Though  this  species  was  not  collected  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions,  I 
find  mention  made  of  a  flock  of  "skimmers"  in  the  notes  of  one  of  the 
naturalists  of  the  expedition,  which  refers  undoubtedly  to  this  bird. 

Darwin's  account  is  of  special  interest.  I  quote  (Voyage  of  the 
"Beagle,"  Zoology,  Birds,  Gould,  p.  143,  1841):  "I  saw  this  bird  both 
on  the  East  and  West  coast  of  South  America,  between  latitudes  30° 
and  45°.  It  frequents  either  fresh  or  salt  water.  Near  Maldonado  (in 
May),  on  the  borders  of  a  lake,  which  had  been  nearly  drained,  and 
which  in  consequence  swarmed  with  small  fry,  I  watched  many  of  these 
birds  flying  backwards  and  forwards  for  hours  together,  close  to  its 
surface.  They  kept  their  bills  wide  open,  and  with  the  lower  mandible 
half  buried  in  the  water.  Thus  skimming  the  surface,  generally  in  small 
flocks,  they  ploughed  it  in  their  course ;  the  water  was  quite  smooth,  and  it 
formed  a  most  curious  spectacle  to  behold  a  flock,  each  bird  leaving  its 
narrow  wake  on  the  mirror-like  surface.  In  their  flight  they  often  twisted 
about  with  extreme  rapidity,  and  so  dexterously  managed,  that  they 
ploughed  up  small  fish  with  their  projecting  lower  mandibles  and  se- 
cured them  with  the  upper  half  of  their  scissor-like  bills.  This  fact  I 
repeatedly  witnessed,  as,  like  Swallows,  they  continued  to  fly  backwards 
and  forwards  close  before  me.  Occasionally,  when  leaving  the  surface  of 
the  water,  their  flight  was  wild,  irregular  and  rapid ;  they  then  also  utterd 
loud,  harsh  cries.  When  these  birds  were  seen  fishing,  it  was  obvious 


AVES  —  LARID^E.  1 97 

that  the  length  of  the  primary  feathers  was  quite  necessary  in  order  to 
keep  their  wings  dry.  When  thus  employed,  their  forms  resembled  the 
symbol,  by  which  many  artists  represent  marine  birds.  The  tail  is  much 
used  in  steering  their  irregular  course. 

"These  birds  are  common  far  inland,  along  the  course  of  the  Rio  Parana ; 
and  it  is  said  they  remain  there  during  the  whole  year  and  that  they  breed 
in  the  marshes.  During  the  day  they  rest  in  flocks  on  the  grassy  plains, 
at  some  distance  from  the  water.  Being  at  anchor  in  a  small  vessel,  in 
one  of  the  deep  creeks  between  the  islands  in  the  Parana,  as  the  evening 
drew  to  a  close,  one  of  these  scissor-beaks  suddenly  appeared.  The 
water  was  quite,  still  and  many  little  fish  were  rising.  The  bird  continued 
for  a  long  time  to  skim  the  surface ;  flying  in  its  wild  and  irregular  manner 
up  and  down  the  narrow  canal,  now  dark  with  the  growing  night  and  the 
shadows  of  the  overhanging  trees.  At  Monte  Video,  I  observed  that  large 
flocks  remained  during  the  day  on  the  mud  banks,  at  the  head  of  the 
harbour;  in  the  same  manner  as  those  which  I  observed  on  the  grassy 
plains  near  the  Parana.  Every  evening  they  took  flight  in  a  straight  line 
seaward.  From  these  facts  I  suspect  that  the  Rhyncops  frequently  fishes 
by  night,  at  which  time  many  of  the  lower  animals  come  more  abundantly 
to  the  surface  than  during  the  day.  I  was  led  by  these  facts  to  speculate 
on  the  possibility  of  the  bill  of  the  Rhyncops,  which  is  so  pliable,  being  a 
delicate  organ  of  touch.  But  Mr.  Owen,  who  was  kind  enough  to  examine 
the  head  of  one,  which  I  brought  home  in  spirits,  writes  to  me  (August  7, 
1837,)  that— 

"'The  result  of  the  dissection  of  the  head  of  the  Rhyncops,  compara- 
tively with  that  of  the  head  of  the  duck,  is  not  what  you  anticipated. 
The  facial,  or  sensitive  branches  of  the  fifth  pair  of  nerves,  are  very  small ; 
the  third  division  in  particular,  is  filamentary,  and  I  have  not  been  able  to 
trace  it  beyond  the  soft  integument  at  the  angles  of  the  mouth.  After 
removing  with  care,  the  thin  horny  covering  of  the  beak,  I  cannot  perceive 
any  trace  of  those  nervous  expansions  which  are  so  remarkable  in  the 
lamelli-rostral  aquatic  birds;  and  which  in  them  supply  the  tooth-like 
process,  and  soft  marginal  covering  of  the  mandibles.  Nevertheless, 
when  we  remember  how  sensitive  a  hair  is,  through  the  nerve  situated  at 
its  base,  though  without  any  in  its  substance,  it  would  not  be  safe  to  deny 
altogether,  a  sensitive  faculty  in  the  beak  of  the  Rhyncops.' ' 

Punta  Arenas.     "Later  in  the  day  a  few  of  us  spent  some  time  on 


198 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 


shore,  and  one  of  the  officers  succeeded  in  shooting  a  male  and  female 
scissor-bill  (Rhynchops  melanura}."  (Cunn.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.  1871, 
P-  S^S-) 

Subfamily  LARIN^E. 

Saunders,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  161  (1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds. 
I.  p.  139,  1899. 

Genus  LARUS  Linnaeus. 

TYPE. 

Larus,  Linn.,  Syst.  Nat.  i.  p.  224  (1766);  Saun- 
ders, Cat.    Bds.    Brit.   Mus.   XXV.    p.    169 

(1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.   139 

(1899). 
Xema,  Boie,  Isis,  1822,  p.  563;  id.  op.  cit.  1844, 

p.  192  (partim). 

Gavia  Macgill.  Man.  Brit.  Orn.  pt.  2,  p.  239  (1842). 
Gavia,  Boie,  Isis,  1844,  p.  191  (partim). 
Gavia,  Kaup,  Natiirl.  Syst.  p.  99  (1829)     .     . 
Leucus,  Kaup,  Natiirl.  Syst.  p.  84  (1829)  .     . 
Leucus,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  ii.  p.  215  (1857)  .     . 
Hydrocolceus,  Kaup,  Natiirl.  Syst.  p.  113  (1829)     L.  mitmtits,  etc. 
Ichthyaetits,  Kaup,  Natiirl.  Syst.  p.  102  (1829)  .     L.  ichthyaetus. 
Laroides,  Brehm,  Isis,    1830,   p.  993;    id.  Vog. 

Deutschl.  p.  738  (1831);  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  ii. 

p.  217  (1857) 

Chroicocephalus,  Eyton,  Brit.  B.  p.  53  (1837) 
Kroicocephalus,  Jameson,  Journ.  Asiat.  Soc.  viii. 

p.  243  (1839) 

Chroicephalus,  Reichenb.  Av.  Syst.  Nat.  Longip. 

p.  v.  (1852) 
Chroocephalus,  Scl.  &  Salvin,  P.  Z.  S.  1871,  p. 

576,  footnote 

Chroicocephahis,  H.  T.  Wharton,  Zool.  1878,  p. 

105 

Chroeocephahis,  Heine  &  Reichenow,  Nomencl. 

Mus.  Hein.  p.  358  (1890) 

Plautus,  Reichenb.  Av.  Syst.  Nat.,  Longip.  p.  v. 

(1852)  .     .     .....     .     .     .     .     .     .     L.  glaucus. 


L.  ridibtmdiis. 
L.  marinus,  etc. 
L.  argentatus,  etc. 


etc. 


Lari  cucitllati. 


AVES LARID^E.  1 99 

Glaucus,  Bruch.  J.  f.  O.  1853,  p.  101     .     .     .     .     L.  glaucus. 
Dominicanus,  Bruch.  J.  f.  O.  1853,  p.  100;  id.  op. 

cit.  1855,  p.  280 L.  marinus,  etc. 

Gavina,  Bp.  Naumannia,  1854,  p.  212     .     .     .     L.  canus,  etc. 
Gavina,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  ii.  p.  222  (1857)   .     .     .     L.  audouini. 
Blasipus,  Bruch.  J.  f.  O.  1853,  p.  108   .     .     .     .     L.  modestus. 
Leucophceus,  Bp.  (nee.  Bruch.  1853)  Naum.  1854, 

p.  211  ;  id.  Consp.  Av.  ii.  p.  231  (1857)     •     •£•  heermanni,  etc. 
Blasipus,   Bp.    Naum.  1854,   p.  211;  id.  Consp. 

Av.  ii.  p.  211  (1857)    •     • •£•  modestus,  etc. 

Blacipiis,  Heine  &  Reichenow,   Nomencl.   Mus. 

Hein.  p.  357  (1890) L.  crassirostris. 

Adelarus,  Bruch.  J.  f.  O.  1853,  p.  106,  ex  Bp.  MS.  1 

Adelolarus,  Heine  &  Reichenow,  Nomencl.  Mus.   I  L.  leucophthalmus,  etc. 

Hein.  p.  358  (1890)     ........  j 

Gelastes,  Bp.  Naum.  1854,  p.  212 L.  gelastes. 

Atricilla,  Bp.  Naum.  1854,  p.  212 L.  atricilla. 

Melagavia,        ]  _  ,       ,-.     ,  T  Q 

'  213  .     Lari  cucullati. 

Lirrhocephala,  J 

Cirrocephalus,  Bruch.  J.  f.  O.  1855,  p.  288     .     .     L.  cirrhocephalus. 
Bruchigavia,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  ii.  p.  228  (1857)     •     L.  nova  hollandia. 
Clupeilarus,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  ii.  p.  220  (1857)      •     L.  fuscus,  etc. 
Lambruschinia,  Salvad.  Cat.  Ucc.  Sard.  p.  128 

(1864) L.  gelastes. 

Einalia,   Heine  &   Reichenow,   Nomencl.  Mus. 

Hein.  p.  358  (1890) L.  argentatus. 

Melanolanis,    Heine    &    Reichenow,    Nomencl. 

Mus.  Hein.  p.  359  (1890) L.  franklini. 

Epitelolarus,    Heine    &    Reichenow,    Nomencl. 

Mus.  Hein.  p.  359  (1890) L.  heermanni. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Throughout  the  World,  except  Polynesia  and 
the  Central  Pacific  Ocean. 


200  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZO6LOGY. 

LARUS  MACULIPENNIS  Lichtenstein. 

Gabiota  blanca,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  363  (1802:  Paraguay). 

Lams  maculipennis,  Licht.  Verz.  Doubl.  p.  83  (1823:  Montevideo);  Scl. 
&  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  148  (1873:  Argent.  Rep.);  Durnf. 
Ibis,  1876,  p.  165  (Montevideo);  id.  Ibis,  1877,  p.  43  (Pot  Harbour, 
Chupat  Valley,  Dec.  breeding),  p.  202  (Baradero,  April) ;  id.  Ibis, 
1878,  p.  405  (Lake  Colgaupe :  Sengel  River,  breeding);  Saunders, 
P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  201  (Chupat  Valley);  id.  Journ.  Linn.  Soc.  XIV, 
p.  399  (1878);  Gibson,  Ibis,  1880,  p.  163  (Cape  San  Antonio, 
Buenos  Ayres) ;  White,  P.  Z.  S.  1882,  p.  628  (Punta  Lara,  Feb. : 
Pacheco,  March:  Salta,  Oct.);  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires, 
III.  part  X.  p.  248  (1888:  Coast  of  Patagonia);  Withington,  Ibis, 
1888,  p.  472  (Lomas  de  Zamora,  very  abundant);  Scl.  &  Huds. 
Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  198  (1889) ;  Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux, 
p.  308  (1891) ;  Saunders,  P.  Z.  S.  1891,  p.  373  (Buenos  Ayres,  eggs) ; 
Huds.  Natural,  in  La  Plata,  p.  66  (1892);  Holland,  Ibis,  1892.  p. 
213  (Estancia  Espartilla,  common  resident,  breeds  in  Nov.);  Aplin, 
Ibis,  1894,  p.  211  (Montevideo  Bay,  Oct.,  April  and  May);  Holland, 
Ibis,  1895,  p.  216  (Estancia  Sta.  Elena);  Saunders,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit. 
Mus.  XXV.  p.  200  (1896:  East  Patagonia);  Holland,  Ibis,  1897,  P- 
287  (Estancia  Sta.  Elena,  breeding),  Scl.  t.  c.  p.  312  (Vina  del  Mar: 
Aranco:  Laraqueti) ;  Schalow.  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  657  (1898; 
Cavanche) ;  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  140  (1899) ;  Martens,  Hamb. 
Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  17  (1900:  South  Patagonia);  Gates,  Cat. 
Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  297  (1901). 

Xema  (Chroicocephala]  cirrhocephalum,  Darwin  (nee.  Vieill.),  Voy. 
"Beagle,"  Birds,  p.  142  (1841  :  Bahia  Blanca). 

Xema  cirrhocephala,  Gray  (nee.  Vieill.),  List.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  Part  III.  p. 
173  (1844:  East  Patagonia). 

Larus  cirrhocephalus,  Hartl.  (nee.  Vieill. )  Ind.  Azara,  p.  26  (1847) !  Schl. 
Mus.  Pays  Bas.  VI.  Lari,  p.  36  (1863:  Paraguay);  Scl.  &  Salv.  P. 
Z.  S.  1868,  p.  146  (Conchitas);  Huds.  P.  Z.  S.  1870,  p.  802,  1871, 
p.  4  (Buenos  Ayres) ;  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  16  (Talcahuano.  Sept.) 

Larus  serranus,  Burm.  (nee.  Tschudi),  Reise  La  Plata,  II.  p.  519  (1861  : 
Entrerios,  Mendoz,  Parana). 


AVES 


LARID.E. 


201 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  male  (breeding).     Total  length,  about  15  inches. 
Wing,  12  inches. 
Tail,  5  inches. 
Tarsus,  2  inches. 
Culmen,  1.7  inches. 

Adult  female  birds  at  the  same  season  average  a  little  smaller. 
Color. — Adult    male   (breeding).     General    color,  grey  above 
white ;  with  a  brown  hood. 

FIG.  1 20. 


below 


Larus  maculipennis.     Adult  male.      ^  natural  size.     From  material  from  Museo.de  la  Plata. 


Head  :  With  a  hood  of  deep  cinnamon  brown,  extending  down  on  the 
neck,  shading  into  umber  on  the  nape  and  throat  ;  unbroken  save  by  white 
eyelids  and  a  white  patch  behind  the  eye. 

Neck  :  Exclusive  of  hood,  white. 

Back  :  Mantle  pale  bluish  grey  shading  into  almost  white  on  the  rump 
and  upper  tail  coverts. 

Wing  :  Coverts  like  the  mantle  ;  primaries  black  with  white  decorations 
and  markings  as  follows  :  First  primary  white  at  apical  end  on  both  sides 
of  shaft  for  three  inches  ;  and  black  on  both  sides  of  the  white  shaft.  Sec- 
ond primary  outer  web  white,  and  the  inner  web  with  a  white  area  next 
to  the  shaft  (see  Fig.  121),  the  larger  part  of  this  web  black.  The  tip  of 
both  webs  white,  a  black  subterminal  bar  crossing  the  feather  below  this 
tip.  In  some  individuals,  presumably  very  old  birds,  this  bar  is  confined 


2O2 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 


to  the  inner  web.  Third  primary  similar,  but  with  more  subterminal 
black.  Fourth  primary  similar,  but  with  the  greyish  black  inner  web 
joining  the  shaft.  Fifth  primary  greyish  black  on  both  webs  and  with  a 
subterminal  bar  which  is  frequently  incomplete.  The  other  primaries 
grayish  black.  Under  wing  coverts  grey. 

Tail:  White. 

FIG.  121. 


Larus  maculipennis.     Wing,  ^  natural  size.     Adult.     From  material  in  the  Princeton  Museum. 


Lower  parts  :  White,  with  a  blush  of  roseate  tinge  on  the  breast  and 
the  abdomen.  This  blush  is  evanescent  and  is  very  likely  to  fade  in  the 
skins,  so  as  to  disappear,  even  when  kept  from  the  light. 

Bill:  "Crimson"  (Gibson).  Tarsi:  "Dull  red"  (Gibson).  Toes: 
"Dull  red"  (Gibson).  Iris:  "Dark  brown"  (Gibson). 

The  adult  breeding  plumage  of  the  female  is  not  to  be  distinguished 
from  that  of  the  adult  male. 

FIG.  122. 


Larus  maculipennis.     Profile  of  head.     From  material  in  the  American  Museum.     Natural 
size.     Immature. 


AVES LARID^E.  20$ 

Adiilts  in  Winter. — Without  the  hood  for  a  brief  period  only.     No 
rosy  blush  on  the  lower  parts.     Otherwise  much  like  breeding  adults  in 

color. 

FIG.  123. 


Larus  maculipennis.     Profile  of  head.     From  material  in  the  American  Museum.     Natural 
size.     Immature. 

Young  birds  of  the  year,  have  the  head  white,  with  indistinct  greyish 
brown  on  the  occiput  and  in  the  auricular  region.     The  mantle  and  upper 

FIG.  124. 


Larus  maculipennis.     Wing.      ^  natural  size.     Immature.     From  material  in  the  American 
Museum. 

wing  coverts  grey  with  brownish  mottling.  The  five  outer  primaries 
sooty  brown  terminally  and  on  their  inner  webs,  with  greyish  white  indi- 
cations of  the  ultimate  quill  pattern  on  the  two  first ;  the  other  quills  with 
whitish  bases,  and  generally  in  pattern  like  the  adult,  but  with  the  pro- 
portion of  greyish  black  greater.  The  secondaries  have  ashy  brown 
centers.  There  is  a  greyish  black  terminal  band  on  the  tail.  At  a  later 
age  the  decorations  on  the  three  outer  quills  become  more  defined.  (See 


204  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

cut  124.)  Immature  birds  are  similar  to  young  of  the  year,  but  the  mantle 
is  not  mottled,  and  there  is  no  mottling  on  the  upper  wing  coverts.  The 
decorations  on  the  primaries  increasingly  white. 

The  size  of  this  bird  in  connection  with  the  pale  grey  under  wing 
coverts,  will  always  serve  to  distinguish  it  in  its  various  phases  of  imma- 
ture dress  from  its  closest  allies  in  this  group. 

Geographical  Range.  —  South  America,  from  about  9°  South  Latitude, 
on  the  East  Coast,  to  South  Patagonia.  On  the  West  Coast  from  about 
50°  South  Latitude  northward  to  probably  about  30°  South  Latitude. 

This  gull,  which  has  been  frequently  confounded  with  its  close  ally  S. 
glaucodes,  especially  in  immature  plumage,  has  been  found  generally  both 
on  the  coast  and  the  interior  of  Patagonia.  It  was  not  obtained,  however, 
by  the  Expeditions  of  Princeton  University,  and  the  series  of  skins  in  the 
British  Museum  of  Natural  History  has  been  examined  as  a  basis  for 
the  above  diagnoses.  The  birds  are  said  to  be  resident  and  to  breed  in  the 
vicinity  of  Buenos  Ayres,  in  November.  Other  references  to  its  breeding 
season  are  given  in  the  literature  cited. 

The  British  Museum  has  received  two  examples  of  this  species  from 
Valle  Lago  Blanco  del  Chubut,  collected  by  Mr.  J.  Koslowsky,  one  of 
which  is  an  adult  male  and  has  the  head,  sides  of  face,  chin  and  throat 
brown.  This  specimen  was  obtained  on  September  16,  1899.  The 
second  example  is  an  immature  male  with  the  crown  of  head,  sides  of  face 
and  throat  white  —  only  a  trace  of  brown  on  the  hinder  margin  of  the 
ear-coverts  —  this  bird  was  procured  on  October  24,  1901. 

BUENOS  AYRES,  August  21,  1870. 

"People  in  Buenos  Ayres  are  as  familiar  with  the  Gaviota  (Larus  cirrho- 
cephalus]  as  with  the  domestic  poultry  about  their  houses.  It  is  one  of 
the  trio  of  our  commonest  species,  the  other  two  being  the  Teru  and  the 
Chimango.  But  these  two  are  exclusively  land  birds,  and  to  make  their 
acquaintance  it  is  also  necessary  to  go  a  few  miles  out  of  a  great  crowded 
city.  Not  so  with  the  Gaviota,  whose  white  graceful  form  is  not  more 
familiar  to  the  gaucho  dwelling  far  off  on  the  inland  plains  than  to  the 
sailors  in  every  ship  that  navigates  the  river  Plata,  or  to  the  townsmen, 
who  may  know  it  well  without  ever  having  left  the  city's  pavement. 


AVES  —  LARID^E.  2O5 

"In  October  these  birds  congregate  in  vast  numbers  in  their  breeding 
places,  which  are  marshes  covered  with  some  aquatic  plant,  usually  the 
loose  growing  junco.  These  reeds  are  much  bent  and  broken  down  by 
Gulls,  and  are  used  as  material  for  their  nests,  which  are  placed  on  the 
water  close  together.  The  female  lays  four  oblong  eggs,  large  for  the 
bird,  obtusely  pointed,  of  a  pale  clay  colour,  thickly  spotted  at  the  large 
end  with  dull  black. 

"Every  morning,  at  break  of  day,  the  Gulls  rise  up  from  their  nests  and 
hover  over  the  marsh,  uttering  loud  cries  and  producing  a  noise  that  may 
be  heard  distinctly  two  or  three  miles  away.  The  eggs  are  excellent 
eating,  resembling  those  of  the  Plover  in  delicacy  of  flavour,  as  well  as  in 
the  lustrous  pearl  colour  which  the  white  assumes  when  boiled.  From 
the  circumstances  of  such  large  numbers  of  Gulls  laying  their  eggs  near 
together,  it  is  a  very  easy  task  to  get  them ;  so  that  when  the  plains  adja- 
cent to  their  favourite  spots  become  settled,  they  have  but  little  chance  of 
rearing  their  young,  as  the  boys  in  the  neighbourhood  ride  in  and  gather 
them  every  morning.  The  Gulls,  however,  are  so  tenacious  of  their 
breeding-places  that  they  continue  to  resort  to  them  every  summer  to  lay, 
and  only  abandon  them  after  several  years'  persecution,  or,  as  often  hap- 
pens, on  the  marsh  drying  up.  But  notwithstanding  such  quantities  of 
their  eggs  are  taken  every  year,  the  Gulls  do  not  seem  to  diminish  in 
numbers.  The  abundance  of  their  food  in  the  settled  districts  favours 
them  greatly  in  their  'struggle  for  existence.' 

"The  young  birds  are  of  a  pale  grey  colour  mottled  with  dull  brown, 
and  have  a  whining,  querulous  note.  The  plumage  becomes  gradually 
lighter  through  the  autumn,  winter  and  spring ;  but  it  must  be  a  year  at 
least  before  they  are  perfectly  like  the  adults  in  the  fine  ash-blue  of  the 
wings,  and  in  the  white  bosom  with  its  lovely  perceptible  blush.  It  is 
now  ten  months  since  the  young  were  fledged,  and  yet,  in  a  flock,  an  ob- 
server at  a  hundred  yards  distance  can  easily  distinguish  them  from  the 
old  birds. 

"So  soon  as  the  young  birds  are  able  to  fly,  the  breeding-place  is  for- 
saken, the  whole  concourse  leaving  in  a  body,  or  scattering  in  all  direc- 
tions over  the  surrounding  country ;  and  until  the  following  summer,  the 
movements  of  the  birds  depend  altogether  on  food  and  water.  As  I  men- 
tioned in  my  last  letter,  in  seasons  of  drought  they  disappear  totally,  and 
when  Grasshoppers  are  very  abundant  appear  in  countless  multitudes. 


206  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Drought  and  Grasshoppers  unfortunately  often  come  together,  so  that  the 
Gulls  are  not  so  useful  as  they  would  otherwise  be.  In  dry  summers, 
when  the  insects  are  abundant,  it  is  common  to  hear  people  wish  for 
rain,  that  the  Gulls  might  come  and  devour  the  Locusts.  Apparently  Gulls 
have  been  useful  to  man  in  the  same  way  on  the  western  plains  of  North 
America. 

"The  Gulls  congregate  in  great  numbers  about  ploughed  grounds,  fill- 
ing the  new-made  furrow  till  it  appears  like  a  white  line,  hovering  in  a 
cloud  over  the  ploughman's  head,  and  following  at  his  heels,  fighting, 
screaming,  buffeting,  in  a  compact  crowd.  When  feeding  they  invariably 
keep  up  a  great  noise  and  screaming.  Wilson's  expression  in  describing 
a  northern  species,  that  its  cry  'is  like  the  excessive  laugh  of  a  negro,'  is 
also  descriptive  of  the  language  of  our  bird.  Its  peculiar  cry  is  length- 
ened and  inflected  a  thousand  ways,  and  interspersed  with  numerous 
short  notes  like  excited  exclamations.  When  their  hunger  is  satisfied 
they  fly  to  the  nearest  water,  where  they  bathe,  drink  and  preen  their 
feathers.  Their  ablutions  over  (in  which  they  appear  to  take  great  de- 
light), they  retire  to  some  open  spot  in  the  neighbourhood  abounding  in 
short  green  grass.  Here  they  sit  close  together  with  their  bills  to  the 
wind ;  in  still  weather  they  also  all  look  one  way ;  and  the  observer  will 
watch  the  flock  in  vain  to  find  one  individual  out  of  this  beautiful  order. 
It  is  remarkable  that  they  do  not  stand  up  to  take  flight,  but  rise  in  the 
air  directly  from  a  sitting  posture.  Usually  they  flap  their  wings  twice  or 
thrice  before  the  body  is  raised  from  the  ground. 

"In  some  seasons  in  August  and  September,  after  a  period  of  rainy 
warm  weather,  the  larvae  of  our  Great-horned  Beetle  rise  to  the  surface, 
throwing  up  little  mounds  of  earth  as  Moles  do ;  often  they  are  so 
numerous  as  to  give  the  plains,  where  the  grass  is  very  closely  cropped, 
the  appearance  of  being  covered  with  mud.  These  insects  afford  a  rich 
harvest  to  the  Teru-teni  (Vanellus  cayennensis],  which  in  such  plentiful 
seasons  are  to  be  seen  all  day  diligently  running  about,  probing  and  dis- 
lodging them  from  under  the  fresh  hillocks.  The  Gulls,  not  having  been 
endowed  with  a  probing  bill,  avail  themselves  of  their  superior  cunning 
and  violence  to  rob  the  Terus.  I  have  often  watched  their  proceedings 
for  hours  with  the  greatest  interest.  Many  hundred  Terns  are  perhaps 
visible  running  busily  about  the  plain  on  all  sides ;  near  each  one  a  Gull 
is  quietly  standing  regarding  his  intended  dupe  with  the  closest  attention. 


AVES LARID^E.  2OJ 

The  instant  a  great  white  larva  is  extracted,  the  Gull  darts  with  such 
sudden  fury  to  seize  it,  that  the  Tern  is  forced  to  take  wing,  and  a  violent 
chase  ensues.  The  depredator  follows  close  upon  the  Plover  in  all  his 
turns,  screaming  all  the  time,  until  the  Tern,  frightened  or  tired  out, 
drops  the  prize,  and  slopes  towards  the  earth  with  a  disappointed  cry ; 
instantly  the  pursuer's  flight  is  checked,  he  hovers  a  moment,  watching 
the  worm  fall,  then  straight  and  suddenly  drops  himself  after  it,  swal- 
lows it  with  customary  greediness,  and  hastens  after  the  Teru  to  resume 
his  watch. 

"Many  Gulls  constantly  hover  about  the  Estancias  to  feed  on  the  gar- 
bage that  is  usually  found  in  abundance  about  cattle-breeding  establish- 
ments. When  a  cow  is  slaughtered  they  collect  in  great  numbers,  and 
quarrel  with  the  domestic  fowls  over  the  offal.  They  are  also  faithful  at- 
tendants at  the  shepherd's  hut ;  and  if  a  dead  lamb  remains  in  the  fold 
when  the  flock  goes  to  pasture,  they  regale  on  its  carcass  in  company 
with  the  Chimango.  Numbers  of  them  are  constantly  seen  soaring  over 
the  low  shores  of  the  river,  and,  when  the  tide  goes  out,  quarrel  on  the 
sands  over  dead  fish,  stranded  fry,  or  whatever  animal  refuse  may  have 
been  left. 

"The  slaughter-grounds  adjacent  to  the  city  are  also  haunted  by  hosts 
of  these  neat  and  beautiful  scavengers.  Here  numbers  may  be  seen 
hovering  overhead,  and  mingling  their  excited  cries  with  the  bellowing  of 
thousands  of  wild  cattle  and  the  shouts  of  men  at  their  rough  work  —  at 
intervals,  wherever  a  little  space  is  afforded,  dropping  themselves  on  to 
the  ground  reeking  with  clotted  blood  and  entrails,  greedily  snatching  up 
whatever  morsels  they  can  on  the  instant,  and  yet  getting  no  speck  or 
stain  on  their  delicate  dress  of  lily  white  and  ethereal  blue. 

"It  is  only  when  their  food  is  very  abundant  that  the  Gulls  move  in 
great  bodies ;  at  other  times  they  are  seen  singly  or  in  small  parties ;  but 
at  night  they  often  congregate  in  myriads  in  some  large  pool,  where  they 
will  sometimes  keep  up  a  great  screaming  until  morning. 

"Their  curiosity  or  anger  seems  greatly  excited  by  the  appearance  of  a 
person  on  foot  on  the  open  plains ;  no  sooner  has  the  Gull  spied  him, 
than  he  sweeps  toward  him  with  a  rapid  flight,  uttering  loud  indignant 
screams,  that  invariably  attract  all  its  fellows  within  hearing.  These  all 
pass  and  repass,  hovering  over  the  pedestrian's  head,  screaming  all  the 
time  as  if  highly  incensed,  and  finally  retire,  joining  their  voices  in  a  sort 


208  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

of  chorus,  and  waving  their  wings  upward  in  a  very  singular  fashion ;  but 
often,  when  they  are  almost  out  of  sight,  they  suddenly  wheel  about  and 
hurry  back  with  fresh  zeal  to  go  through  the  whole  annoying  performance 
again.  Their  flight  being  so  serene  at  such  times,  it  is  very  easy  to  shoot 
them.  Many  persons,  however,  and  particularly  English  residents,  have  a 
squeamish  repugnance  against  eating  their  flesh.  But  the  flavour  of  birds 
does  not  seem  to  depend  altogether  on  their  peculiar  food ;  two  species 
are  sometimes  equally  good  that  feed  very  differently.  The  Burrowing 
Parrot  ( Conurus  patachoniciis}  is  very  bitter  in  taste,  and  yet  feeds  on  the 
same  seeds  as  the  Partridge  and  wild  Pigeon ;  the  Glossy  Ibis  eats  the 
same  food  as  the  most  delicious-flavoured  Snipes,  and  yet,  when  cooked, 
its  fat  emits  a  sickening  smell  that  renders  it  unfit  for  human  food. 
Those  who  have  eaten  this  Gull  have  found  it  rich  and  finely  flavoured, 
without  any  taint  or  rankness. 

"The  Gulls  seem  everywhere  preeminent  among  the  feathered  race  for 
the  singular  beauty  of  their  flight.  Our  bird  forms  no  exception,  but  all 
its  aerial  movements  are  characterized  with  the  same  grace  and  buoyancy 
that  have  been  observed  in  the  allied  species  in  other  continents.  On  a 
still,  hot  day  they  love  to  soar  to  a  vast  height,  and  at  such  times  appear 
like  diminutive  white  specks  on  the  sky.  In  fair  weather  their  flight  is 
always  placid,  a  large  body  of  them  seen  at  a  distance  appearing  to  travel 
with  the  serene  motion  of  a  cloud. 

"  When  near,  it  is  pleasing  to  see  the  wonderful  precision  with  which 
each  bird  keeps  its  relative  place  in  the  flock.  But  it  is  in  a  high  wind 
the  Gull's  flight  is  particularly  interesting ;  casually  observed  it  seems 
altogether  wild  and  irregular.  The  bird  toils  onward,  alternately  turning 
the  upper  and  under  surface  of  its  wings,  now  struck  motionless  in  mid- 
air, and  again  sweeping  onward  with  redoubled  velocity,  now  dropping 
downward  until  it  nears  the  surface,  and  soaring  anon  toward  the  sky, 
apparently  without  an  effort  of  its  own,  but  borne  aloft  by  the  resistless 
violence  of  the  wind."  (Hudson,  P.  Z.  S.  1871,  pp.  4-7.) 

"  Inconceivable  numbers  of  birds  are,  no  doubt,  continually  passing  over 
us  unseen.  It  was  once  a  matter  of  wonder  to  me  that  flocks  of  Swans 
should  almost  always  appear  flying  past  after  a  shower,  even  when  none 
had  been  visible  for  a  long  time  before,  and  when  they  must  have  come 
from  great  distances.  But  the  simple  reason  soon  occurred  to  me,  that 
after  rain  a  Swan  may  be  visible  at  a  vastly  greater  distance  than  during 


AVES LARID^E.  209 

»  i 

fair  weather,  the  sun  shining  on  its  snow-white  plumage  against  the  dark 
background  of  a  cloud  rendering  it  very  conspicuous.  The  fact  of  Swans 
being  seen  almost  always  after  a  rain  is  only  a  proof  that  they  are  almost 
always  passing.  Whenever  we  are  visited  by  a  great  dust-storm,  myriads 
of  Gulls  appear  flying  before  it ;  this  is  invariably  the  case  even  when  not 
a  Gull  has  been  visible  for  months.  A  dust-storm  is  always  preceded  by 
long  drought,  so  that  from  the  water  courses  being. all  dry  the  Gulls 
could  not  well  have  subsisted  in  the  region  over  which  it  passes.  Yet  in 
seasons  of  drought  Gulls  must  be  incessantly  passing  over  us,  visible  only 
when  driven  together  and  forced  towards  the  earth  by  the  violence  of  the 
storm.  The  bird  I  allude  to  is  the  Black-headed  Gull  (Larus  cirrho- 
cephafas}.  In  seasons  when  Grasshoppers  abound  very  much,  flocks  of 
these  birds  also  appear,  often  in  such  multitudes  as  to  free  entire  districts 
from  the  devastating  swarms  of  the  hated  insects.  It  is  a  fine  sight,  and 
a  welcome  as  well,  to  see  a  flight  of  these  birds  settle  on  the  afflicted 
district ;  at  such  times  their  mode  of  proceeding  is  often  so  regular,  that 
a  body  of  them  well  deserves  the  appellation  of  'an  army  of  birds.'  They 
come  down  with  a  swift  graceful  flight,  and  settle  on  the  earth  with  loud 
joyful  cries,  but  do  not  abandon  when  the  work  of  devouring  has  begun 
the  order  in  which  the  flock  was  disposed.  It  often  presents  a  front  of 
several  thousand  feet,  with  a  breadth  of  but  sixty  or  eighty ;  all  along  this 
line  of  battle  the  excited  cries  of  the  innumerable  birds  produce  a  loud, 
incessant  noise.  Every  bird  is  incessantly  on  the  move  —  some  skimming 
along  the  ground  with  half  expanded  wing,  others  pursuing  the  fugitives 
through  the  air ;  and  all  the  time  the  hindmost  birds  are  flying  over  the 
flock  and  alighting  in  the  front  ranks ;  so  that  the  whole  body  is  steadily 
advancing,  and  leaving  the  earth  over  which  it  passes  free  from  the  pest. 
The  Black-headed  Gull  is  one  of  our  most  common  birds,  and  has  many 
very  interesting  habits ;  I  hope  before  long  to  make  it  the  subject  of 
another  letter."  (Hudson,  P.  Z.  S.  1870,  p.  802.) 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London,  16  June,  1891, 
"Mr.  Howard  Saunders  exhibited  and  made  remarks  on  some  specimens 
of  eggs  of  the  Spot-winged  Gull  (Larus  maculipennis]  and  Trudeau's 
Tern  (Sterna  trudeaui},  from  the  province  of  Buenos  Ayres,  obtained  by 
Mr.  Ernest  Gibson,  F.  Z.  S.,  and  believed  to  be  exhibited  for  the  first 
time.  The  eggs  of  the  former  bird  were,  as  might  be  expected,  similar  in 
character  to  those  of  other  marsh-breeding  brown-capped  Gulls.  The 


210  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

eggs  of  Sterna  trudeaui  were  intermediate  in  their  shape  and  pattern 
between  those  of  the  coast  breeding  Terns  (Sterna]  and  those  of  the 
marsh  Terns  (Hydrochelidon\  The  nests  of  this  Tern  were  stated  to 
be  placed  in  the  swamps,  amongst  those  of  the  Gull  above  mentioned." 
From  the  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London,  1891,  page 

373- 

"On  the  2nd  and  3rd  October  there  were  some  adults  of  this  Gull  in 

Montevideo  Bay,  though  birds  in  winter  and  immature  dress  were  far 
more  abundant.  They  remind  one  of  the  Black-headed  Gull.  In  autumn 
they  appeared  in  the  camp.  On  the  2Oth  April  I  saw  two  close  to  the 
estancia,  and  from  that  time  they  might  often  be  seen  about  the  camp, 
sometimes  sitting  on  the  carcass  of  a  sheep  or  cow  from  which  the  hide 
had  been  taken.  On  2Oth  May  I  shot  an  adult  with  a  lovely  rosy  flush 
on  its  breast.  A  few  days  after  there  were  a  great  many  about  the 
estancia.  The  cry  resembles  that  of  our  English  species."  (O.  V.  Alpin, 
on  Birds  Uruguay,  Ibis,  p.  211,  1894.) 

LARUS  GLAUCODES  Meyen. 

Larus  ridibundus,  King  (nee.  Linn.)  Zool.  Journ.  IV.  p.  104  (1828: 
Straits  of  Magellan). 

Larus  glaucodes,  Meyen,  Nov.  Act.  Acad.  Caes.  Leop.  XVI.  p.  115,  pi.  24 
(1834) ;  id.  Beitr.  Zool.  p.  239,  pi.  34  (1834:  Chile) ;  Cass.  U.  S.  Astr. 
Exp.  II.  p.  204  (1855:  coast  of  Chile);  Burm.  La  Plata  Reis.  II.  p. 
519,  note  (1861);  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  48  (1868:  Com- 
mon on  the  coast  of  Chile) ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1871,  p.  578  (Falk- 
land Is. :  Patagonia:  Chile) ;  Saunders,  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  799  (Straits 
of  Magellan);  id.  1878,  p.  203;  id.  Voy.  Chall.  Birds,  p.  138  (1880: 
Messier  Channel,  Magellan  Territory);  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  16 
(Gregory  Bay) ;  Burm.  Ann.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part  X. 
p.  248  (1888:  Falkland  Islands) ;  Ridgw.  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  XII. 
p.  139  (1889:  Port  Otway) ;  Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  p. 
181  (1891:  Tierra  del  Fuego :  Sloggett  Bay:  Straits  of  Magellan: 
Santa  Cruz :  Falkland  Islands) ;  James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  12  (1892) ; 
Saunders,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  203  (1896:  Egg  Harbour, 
S.  E.  Patagonia);  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  656  (1898: 
Tumbes,  June  :  Talcahuano  :  Lago  Llanquihue) ;  Sharpe,  Hand-List, 


AVES LARID^E. 


21  I 


Bds.  I.  p.  140  (1899);  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX.  p.  630 
(1900:  Punta  Arenas,  May:  Rio  Pescado,  May);  Martens  Hamb. 
Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  17  (1900:  South  Patagonia);  Gates, 
Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit.  Mus.  I.  p.  208  (1901). 

Xema  (Chroicocephahis]  cirrocephalum,  Gould,  Voy.  "Beagle,"  Birds, 
p.  142  (1841:  Straits  of  Magellan);  Fraser,  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  P-  TI9 
(Chile). 

Xema  cirrhocephala,  Gray  (nee.  Vieill.),  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  Part  III.  p. 
173  (1844:  Falkland  Islands  and  Straits  of  Magellan). 

Larus  cirrhocephalus,  Des  Murs.  (nee.  Vieill.),  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil. 
Zool.  I.  p.  482  (1847);  Pelz-  Reis-  Novara,  Vog.  p.  151  (1865: 
Chile,  breeding);  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  16  (Talcahuano,  Sep- 
tember). 

Larus  albipennis,  Peale,  U.  S.  Expl.  Exped.  p.  288  (1848:  Chile);  Cass. 
t.  c.  p.  379  (1858:  coast  of  Chile). 

FIG.  125. 


Larus  glancodes.     Adult  male.     Natural  size.     From  material  in  British  Museum. 


Chroicocephalus  glaucotes,  Bruch.  J.  f.  O.      1853,  p.  105  (Chile)  id.  ;   1855, 
p.  291  ;  Licht.  Nomencl.  Av.  Mus.  Berol.  p.  98  (1854). 


212  PATAGONIAN   EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

Gavia    roseiventris,  Gould,   P.    Z.    S.    1859,   p.    97    (Falkland    Islands, 

breeding). 
Larus  roseiventris,  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  391  (Falkland  Islands);  Abbott, 

Ibis,  1 86 1,  p.  1 66  (loc.  cit). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  male  (breeding).     Total  length,  about  14  inches. 

Wing,  1 1  inches. 

Tail,  4.8  inches. 

Culmen,  1.7  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.75  inches. 

Color. — Adult  (breeding).  General  color.  Above  pale  cold  grey; 
with  a  deep  brown  hood,  below,  except  the  region  covered  by  the  hood, 
white. 

Head:  With  a  deep  brown  hood,  darkest  on  the  nape  and  throat; 
a  white  circle  about  the  eye,  broken  in  front. 

Neck :  White,  except  the  portion  over  which  the  hood  extends. 

Back :  Mantle  pale  cold  grey ;  this  color  shading  into  white  or  almost 
white  on  the  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts. 

Wing :  Upper  coverts  pale  cold  grey.  The  primaries  without  subter- 
minal  bars.  (This  characteristic  and  the  smaller  size  readily  distinguish 
L.  glaucodes  from  L.  maculipennis  in  the  breeding  plumage.)  First  pri- 
mary, with  a  pure  white  tip  extending  down  for  about  two  and  a  half 
inches.  Below  this  both  webs  are  black  reaching  to  the  white  shaft. 
Second  and  third  primaries,  with  white  tips,  white  outer  webs  extending 
well  down  on  the  feathers,  and  with  the  inner  webs  chiefly  greyish  black, 
but  separated  from  the  shafts  by  a  conspicuous  white  region.  The  second- 
aries are  like  the  mantle  but  paler  at  their  tips. 

Tail:  White. 

Lower  parts :  White,  except  the  throat  and  chin  which  are  covered  by 
the  hood.  The  breast  and  abdomen  with  a  deep  rose  blush  tint  which 
generally  disappears  in  dried  skins. 

Bill :  Crimson.  Tarsi :  Dull  red.  Feet :  Toes  dull  red,  the  webs  a 
little  lighter.  Iris :  Dark  hazel  brown. 

Adults  in  winter,  lack  the  hood  for  a  brief  period,  and  the  rosy  tinge  is 
faint  if  not  absent.  Otherwise  similar  to  adults  breeding  in  plumage. 


AVES LARIDyE. 


213 


FIG.  126. 


Lams  glaucodes.      Female.     Immature. 
P.  U.  O.  C.  7909.     About  ^  natural  size. 


Nestlings  are  "cinnamon  buff,  mottled  with  brownish  black  on  the 
upper  surface;  bill,  tarsi  and  toes  yellowish  brown."  (Saunders.) 

Fledglings  are  "chiefly  pale  umber-brown  above,  and  paler  below;  the 
grey  of  the  mantle  and  wings  showing 
through  the  brown  half-down."    (Saun- 
ders.) 

Young,  first  flight,  have  the  head  and 
mantle  chiefly  cinnamon-buff  and  the 
tail  white  with  a  terminal  band  (half  an 
inch  wide)  of  dusky  brown.  The  shafts 
of  most  of  the  primaries  are  white. 
The  three  outer  ones  in  pattern  as 
shown  in  the  figure  (No.  128,  p.  214).  The  rest  have  an  increasing  amount 
of  the  dark  ground  color  on  their  webs,  the  inner  ones  being  wholly  grey. 
The  secondaries  are  grey  with  dusky  brownish  centers.  The  under 
wing  coverts  are  pale,  pearly  grey. 

Immature  birds  of  the  year.  (9,  No.  7909  P.  U.  O.  C.  near  Coy  Inlet, 
Patagonia,  November  6,  1896).  With  white  head,  dusky  on  the  occiput 
and  about  the  auriculars,  assuming  the  grey  immaculate  mantle.  The 
primaries  as  in  Fig.  126.  The  secondaries  pale  grey  with  large  areas  of 
dusky  brown  near  their  ends.  Upper  wing  coverts  chiefly  grey,  with 
dusky  brown  on  each  side  of  their  shafts,  and  a  strong  shading  of  buffy 

at  their  ends  and  margins.  Tail  white,  with  an  irreg- 
ular amount  of  deep,  dusky  brown  near  the  end  of 
each  feather;  together  these  brown  regions  form  a 
subterminal  band.  Below  white,  no  blush  of  pink. 
A  few  dusky  feathers  indicate  the  coming  hood  on 
the  throat.  Bill  reddish  yellow.  Feet  and  legs  yel- 
lowish brown.  Another  bird  of  the  year  (9,  7910  P. 
^  Q  Q  c  Fairweather  Patagonia,  7  February, 

.      '  •" 

1898)  appears  much  like  an  adult  in  winter  plumage. 
The  back  of  the  head  shows  a  strong  shading  of  buffy 
brown,  which  also  appears  on  the  auriculars.  There 
is  a  dusky  area  just  in  front  of  each  eye.  The  wing  formula,  as  shown  in 
Fig.  128,  and  the  large  amount  of  brown  and  buffy  markings  on  the 
mantle  clearly  indicate  the  age  of  the  bird.  The  secondaries  are,  however, 
chiefly  grey,  as  are  the  upper  wing  coverts,  and  the  under  wing  coverts 


FIG.  127. 


I 

Gar- 

rett  collection.  Female. 
Immature  P.  U.  O.  C. 
7910.  About  y^  nat- 
ural size. 


214 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS!     ZOOLOGY. 


FIG.  128. 


pale,  pearly  grey.  The  two  middle  tail  feathers  are  immaculate  white,  as 

are  the  two  outer  ones  on  each  side. 
The  rest  have  subterminal  areas  of 
dusky  brown.  The  feet  and  legs  are 
pale  brownish  flesh  color.  The  bill 
dull  flesh  color,  darkening  at  the 
tip.  The  lower  parts  are  pure  white. 
This  bird  is  in  fresh  unworn  feather 
of  singularly  fine  texture.  I  am 
obliged  to  Mr.  Howard  Saunders,  of 

London,  for  confirming  my  identification  of  these  two  specimens  of  Lams 

glaucodes. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Straits  of  Magellan,  Southern  Patagonia,  Tierra 
del  Fuego,  the  Falkland  Islands,  and  north  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  to  about 
9°  South  Latitude.  On  the  Pacific  Coast  north  to  about  Coquimbo. 


Larus  glatuodes.     Female.      Immature  P. 
U.  O.  C.  7910.     About  y±  natural  size. 


In  view  of  the  several  diagnoses  given  it  should  not  be  difficult  to 
identify  this  Gull  in  its  many  phases.  However,  Mr.  Saunders  writes: 
"It  must  be  admitted  that  there  is  often  considerable  difficulty  in  dis- 
tinguishing between  the  young  of  this  species  and  of  L.  maculipennis. 
The  easiest  test  is  the  larger  proportion  of  white  in  the  former,  especially 
on  the  third  quill,  in  which  the  black  of  the  innner  web  is  quite  detached 
from  the  shaft ;  whereas  in  young  L.  macttlipenms  the  black  reaches  the 
shaft  till  the  bird  is  a  year  older.  As  already  stated,  the  latter  species  is 
a  trifle  the  larger."  From  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  206  (1896). 

The  naturalists  of  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to  Patagonia,  procured  the 
two  specimens  described  in  detail  above,  and  presumably  saw  many  of 
these  Gulls.  For  other  phases  of  plumage  the  material  in  the  British 
Museum  of  Natural  History  has  been  used  as  a  basis  for  the  above 
descriptions. 

The  two  representatives  of  L.  glaucodes,  secured  by  the  Princeton  Uni- 
versity Expeditions  to  Patagonia,  are  here  cited : 


P.  U.  O.  C. 

Num. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

7909 
7910 

9 

9 

Near  Coy  Inlet,  Patag. 
Cape  Fairweather,  Patag. 

6  November,  1896. 
7  February,  1898. 

J.  B.  Hatcher. 
A.  E.  Colburn. 

AVES LARID^E.  2  1 5 

"This  species  so  closely  resembles  the  Xema  ridibtmdum  Boie,  that 
Mr.  Gould  observes,  he  should  have  hardly  ventured  to  have  character- 
ized it  as  distinct ;  but  as  M.  Vieillot  and  Meyen  have  deemed  this  neces- 
sary, he  adopts  their  view.  I  have  compared  a  suite  of  specimens,  which 
I  procured  from  the  Rio  Plata,  the  coast  of  Patagonia,  and  the  Straits  of 
Magellan,  with  several  specimens  of  the  Xema  ridibundum ;  the  only  dif- 
ference which  appears  to  me  constant,  is  that  the  primaries  of  the  X. 
cirrocephalum,  in  the  adult  winter  plumage,  both  of  male  and  female,  are 
tipped  with  a  white  spot  (a  character  common  to  some  other  species), 
whereas  in  the  X.  ridibundum  the  points  are  black.  The  beak  of  the 
latter  species,  especially  the  lower  mandible,  is  also  a  little  less  strong, 
or  high  in  proportion  to  its  length.  In  the  immature  stage,  I  could  per- 
ceive no  difference  whatever  in  the  plumage  of  these  birds.  The  propor- 
tional quantity  of  black  and  white  in  the  primaries,  given  by  Meyen  as 
the  essential  character,  varies  in  the  different  states  of  plumage.  The 
specimens  described  by  this  author  were  procured  from  Chile.  The  soles 
of  the  feet  of  my  specimens  were  coloured,  deep  '  reddish  orange,'  and  the 
bill  dull  'arterial  blood-red'  of  Werner's  nomenclature. 

"In  the  plains  south  of  Buenos  Ayres  I  saw  some  of  these  birds  far 
inland,  and  I  was  told  that  they  bred  in  the  marshes.  It  is  well  known 
that  the  black-headed  gull  (Xema  ridibundum],  which  we  have  seen  comes 
so  near  the  X.  cirrocephalum,  frequents  the  inland  marshes  to  breed.  It 
appears  to  me  a  very  interesting  circumstance  thus  to  find  birds  of  two 
closely  allied  species  preserving  the  same  peculiarities  of  habits  in  Europe 
and  in  the  wide  plains  of  S.  America.  Near  Buenos  Ayres  this  gull  as 
well  as  the  L.  dominicanus  sometimes  attends  the  slaughter-houses  to  pick 
up  bits  of  meat."  (Voy.  "Beagle,"  Darwin,  Birds,  pp.  142-143.) 

LARUS  DOMINICANUS  Lichtenstein. 

Gabiota  major,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  338  (1802). 

Larus  dominicanus,  Licht.  Verz.  Doubl.  p.  82  (1823:  ex  Azara);  Darwin, 
Voy.  "Beagle"  Birds,  p.  142  (1841  :  Buenos  Ayres  and  Bahia  Blanca); 
Eraser,  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  P-  I!9  (Chile);  Hartl.  Ind.  Azara,  p.  26 
(1847);  Des  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  480  (1847) ;  Gould, 
P.  Z.  S.  1859,  p.  97  (Falkland  Islands);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  390 
(Falklands);  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  165  (Falkland  Islands,  breeds  in 


2l6  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

Dec.);  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  47  (1868:  Coast  of  Chile, 
common);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Ibis,  1868,  p.  189  (Sandy  Point);  1869,  p. 
284  (Halt  Bay,  April);  Newton,  Ibis,  1870,  p.  503  (Elizabeth  Island, 
Nov.  eggs);  Cunningh.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.,  p.  222  (1871)  ;  Scl. 
&  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1871,  p.  576  (Falkland  Islands);  iid.  Nomencl.  Av. 
Neotr.  p.  148  (1873);  Durnf.  Ibis,  1876,  p.  165  (Monte  Video,  Sept.); 
Saunders,  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  799  (Straits  of  Magellan);  Durnf.  Ibis, 
1877,  p.  45  (Ninfas  Point,  Chupat  Valley),  p.  201  (Buenos  Ayres); 
id.  Ibis,  1878,  p.  68  (Buenos  Ayres),  p.  405  (Lake  Colgaupe :  Tambo 
Point,  Dec.,  breeding);  Saunders,  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  180;  Gibson, 
Ibis,  1880,  p.  163  (Cape  San  Antonio,  Buenos  Ayres);  Saunders, 
Voy.  Chall.  II.  Birds,  p.  139  (1880:  Nassau  Harbour,  Straits  of  Ma- 
gellan, Jan.);  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  17  (Tom  Bay,  April,  March: 
Cockle  Cove,  Feb.:  Valparaiso,  Aug.:  Peckett  Harbour:  Puerto 
Bueno,  Feb.:  Port  Henry,  Jan.);  Doering,  Expl.  al  Rio  Negro,  Zool. 
p.  57  (1882:  Laguna  Epecuen,  Carhue,  Puan  y  Salinas  Chicas); 
Saunders,  P.  Z.  S.  1882,  p.  527  (Coquimbo);  Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p. 
316  (1884:  Lagunas  at  Puan  and  Carhue,  March  and  April);  With- 
ington,  Ibis,  1888,  p.  472  (Lomas  de  Zamora,  fairly  plentiful);  Scl. 
&  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  197  (1889);  Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap 
Horn,  Oiseaux,  p.  173  (1891  :  Tierra  del  Fuego:  Orange  Bay:  New 
Year  Sound  :  Rio  Santa  Cruz);  James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  12  (1892); 
Holland,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  213  (Estancia  Espartilla,  Jan.  to  Aug.,  com- 
mon); Lataste,  Actes  Soc.  Sci.  Chile,  III.  p.  122  (1893:  Straits  of 
Magellan);  Scl.  Ibis,  1894,  pp.  495,  497;  Saunders,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit. 
Mus.  XXV.  p.  245  (1896:  East  Patagonia);  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb. 
Suppl.  IV.  p.  657  (1898:  Cavanche,  July  &  Sept.:  Coquimbo,  Oct.: 
Feuerland,  Jan.:  Beagle  Canal);  Sharpe,  Hand-List,  Bds.  I.  p.  141 
(1899);  Carbajal,  La  Patagonia,  part  II.  p.  280  (1900);  Salvad.  Ann. 
Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX.  p.  629  (1900:  Penguin  Rookery  Feb.:  Port 
Cook,  March:  Punta  Arenos,  June:  Santa  Cruz,  Jan.,  July);  Martens, 
Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  17  (1900:  Falkland  Islands); 
Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs.  Brit.  Mus.  I,  p.  212  (1901) ;  Nicoll,  Ibis,  1904, 
p.  46  (Straits  of  Magellan  and  Smythe's  Channel). 

Lamsfuscus,  King  (nee  Linn.)  Zool.  Journ.  IV.  p.  103  (1828);  id.  Voy. 
Advent.  &  Beagle,  I.  p.  541  (1839:  Straits  of  Magellan). 

Dominicanus  verreauxi,  Bruch.  J.  f.  O.  1855,  p.  281  (Chile). 


AVES LARID.-E. 


217 


Clupeilarus  verreauxi,  Bp.  Compt.  Rend,  xliii.  p.  770  (1856:  Chile). 
Larus  vociferus,  Burm.  La  Plata  Reis.  II.  p.  518  (1861  :  Buenos  Ayres: 

Montevideo) ;  C.  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part  X.  p. 

248  (1888:  Coast  of  Patagonia  and  Falkland  Islands). 

FIG.  129. 
^ 
GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.  —  Adult  male  (breeding).  Total 
length,  about  23  inches. 

Wing,  16.5  inches. 

Tail,  7.1  inches. 

Tarsus,  2.4  inches. 

Culmen,  2.25  inches. 

The  female  is  appreciably  smaller  than  the 
male. 

Color.  —  Adult  male  (breeding).  General 
color,  white  with  a  black  or  slaty  black  man-  file  of  head.  Bill  from  above. 


Larus  dominicanus.   Adult.    Pro- 


From  specimens  procured  by  the 
Princeton  Expeditions.  About  ^ 
natural  size. 


tie  and  wings. 

Head :  Entirely  white. 

Neck:  White. 

Back:  Mantle  and  lower  back  slaty  black.  Rump  and  upper  tail 
coverts  white. 

Wing:  In  general  color  like  the  mantle.  Upper  wing  coverts  slaty 
black.  The  scapulars  and  all  of  the  secondaries  slaty  black  with  broad 
white  tips,  which  together  form  a  conspicuous  alar  bar.  The  primaries 
are  black,  broadly  tipped  with  white,  and  vary  in  decoration  and  amount 
of  white  with  the  age  of  the  individual  as  follows :  Very  mature  birds 
have  the  first  primary  white  for  about  two  inches  apically,  with  only  a 
hair  line  of  black  next  to  the  shaft.  The  second  primary  shows  a  white 
mirror,  subapically,  which  is  most  extensive  on  the  inner  web.  Ordinary 
adults  have  the  white  apical  region  of  the  first  primary  modified  to  a  sub- 
apical  mirror;  the  second  primary  being  decorated  as  in  older  birds. 
Still  younger  adult  birds  have  only  the  first  primary  decorated  with  a 
white  mirror,  the  second  primary  being  black  with  a  broad  white  tip  like  the 
third.  In  all  of  these  phases,  the  third  primary  is  black  with  a  broad  white 
tip.  The  fourth  primary  begins  to  show  a  greyish  or  white  "wedge"  on 
the  inner  web.  This  increases  in  extent  until  on  the  seventh  primary  it 


2l8  PATONIAGAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

has  joined  the  white  tip,  and  the  other  inner  primaries  are  white  termi- 
nally and  only  slate  color  basally. 
Tail :  Pure  white. 

Under  parts :  Including  under  wing  coverts  pure  white. 
Bill :  Lemon  yellow,  turning  to  orange  and  red  at  the  angle  of  the 
gonys.     Iris  :  Greyish  white.     Tarsi :  Olive  grey.     Toes  :  Olive  grey,  with 
the  webs  inclined  to  yellow. 

"Male  ad.:  Tom  Bay,  April  5,  1879.  Iris  clear  grey;  eyelids  red; 
legs  olive. 

"Male  juv. :  Cockle  Cove,  February  14,  1879.  Eyes  black;  bill  black; 
legs  dark  grey. 

"Male  juv. :  Tom  Bay,  March  8,  1879.  Iris  dark  brown  ;  eyelids  black ; 
bill  black ;  legs  grey. 

"Female  in  changing  plumage:  Valparaiso,  August  13,  1879.  Bill 
grey  with  black  tip ;  eyes  dark ;  legs  light  grey ;  claws  black. 

"Female ad.:  Peckett Harbour,  Straits 
of  Magellan,  January  4,  1879.  Bill  yel- 
low, the  end  of  lower  mandible  red  ;  eye- 
lids red ;  eyes  clear  grey ;  legs  greenish. 
"  Male  juv. :  Puerto  Bueno,  February 
21,1 879.  Iris  dark  brown,  the  lids  black ; 
feet  grey. 

"Puerto  Bueno,   February  20,   1879. 

Lams  dominicanus.     Winer   pattern   of     T->MI  i_i      i       i  j     i 

Bill  black ;  legs  dark  grey. 

ordinary  adults.  *       J 

"Male:  Port  Henry,  January  28, 

1879.  Eyelids  red;  irides  grey;  bill  yellow,  tip  of  lower  mandible  red; 
legs  and  feet  olive-green;  claws  black."  (Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  17.) 

The  adult  female  is  like  the  adult  male  in  color. 

Immature  birds  have  the  mantle  and  wings  browner.  The  white  on  the 
first  five  primaries  is  much  reduced  if  present  at  all.  There  is  a  more  or 
less  well  defined  dark  brown  subterminal  band  on  the  tail.  Sometimes 
this  is  only  indicated  by  a  mottling  of  the  darker  color.  The  head  and 
neck  are  streaked  with  greyish  brown  in  a  varying  degree.  The  bill  is 
duller  and  paler  in  color. 

Young  birds  of  the  year  (No.  7908,  P.  U.  O.  C.  (no  sex  given),  Rio 
Gallegos,  Patagonia,  31  May,  1896)  are  mottled  dark  brown  and  grey 
above  and  streaked  with  dark  brown  on  a  greyish  ground  below.  Both 


AVES LARID^E.  2  1 9 

the  upper  and  lower  tail  coverts  are  barred  with  dull  brown.  The  rec- 
trices  are  dull  brown  with  greyish  brown  tips.  The  bill  is  dark  horn- 
color,  lighter  at  the  tip.  The  legs  and  feet  are  brown  and  the  webs 
pinkish  brown. 

These  birds  probably  do  not  attain  the  first  adult  plumage  until  the 
fifth  year,  and  the  dark  mantle  first  becomes  indicated  by  some  decided 
black  spots  or  areas  on  the  back.  Gradually  this  color  extends  till  the 
wings  show  it.  Meantime  the  upper  tail  coverts  become  white  and  the 
bill  paler  yellow.  In  the  next  change  the  primaries  have  white  tips. 
Later  the  subterminal  mirrors  begin  to  show,  and  with  the  first  complete 
adult  appe'arance,  subapical  mirrors  are  developed,  as  already  described. 
Finally  the  old  birds,  beyond  the  seventh  year  probably,  show  the  apical 
white  end  to  the  first  primary. 

Downy  nestlings  are  dull  stone-color  with  a  faint  buffish  shading,  and 
scattered  brownish  black  spots  about  the  head  and  duller  mottling  of  a 
like  character  on  the  back.  The  under  parts  are  greyish  white  and  the 
feet  and  toes  dull  lead  color. 

Geographical  Range. — South  America  from  latitude  10°  south  to  the 
Antarctic  regions.  The  Falkland  Islands,  the  South  Georgia  Islands, 
South  Africa,  both  coasts,  the  Crozets  and  Kerguelen  Islands,  New  Zea- 
land and  lands  to  the  south. 


The  Black-backed  Gull  of  the  South  Atlantic  and  regions  cited  is  of 
common  occurrence  on  the  coast  and  in  some  parts  of  the  interior  of 
Patagonia.  In  appearance  it  closely  resembles  the  Great  Black-backed 
Gull,  L.  marinus,  of  the  North  Atlantic,  but  is  very  appreciably  smaller. 
Difference  in  size  should  serve  to  distinguish  the  two  in  all  phases  of 
plumage,  and  the  decorations  of  white  on  the  two  first  primaries  of  adults 
of  L.  marinus  are  always  much  larger  relatively  than  the  same  markings 
are  in  L.  dominicanus. 

The  several  specimens  of  L.  dominicanus  obtained  by  the  Princeton 
Expeditions  to  Patagonia,  and  the  material  in  the  British  Museum  of 
Natural  History  have  formed  a  basis  for  the  description  given. 

A  specimen  of  this  species  was  collected  by  J.  Koslowsky  at  Valle  del 
Lago  Blanco  del  Chubut,  on  September  18,  1899.  It  is  a  fully  adult  bird 
in  breeding  plumage. 


22O  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

Mr.  Saunders,  referring  to  the  variation  in  size  of  L.  dominicanus, 
writes:  "The  female  is  smaller  and  has  a  less  robust  bill;  there  is,  how- 
ever, much  individual  variation  irrespective  of  sex.  For  example,  there  is 
as  much  difference  between  birds  obtained  on  the  Island  of  Kerguelen 
alone  as  there  is  between  examples  from  all  the  rest  of  the  area  frequented 
by  the  species."  (Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  248,  1896.) 

In  "Voyage  of  the  Beagle,  Zoology,"  Part  III.  Birds,  page  142  (1841), 
Darwin  writes  of  Larus  dominicanus'.  "This  Gull  abounds  in  flocks  on 
the  Pampas,  sometimes  even  as  much  as  fifty  and  sixty  miles  inland. 
Near  Buenos  Ayres,  and  at  Bahia  Blanca,  it  attends  the  slaughtering- 
houses,  and  feeds,  together  with  the  Polybori  and  Cathartes,  On  the  gar- 
bage and  offal.  The  noise  which  it  utters  is  very  like  that  of  the  common 
English  Gull  (Larus  canus,  Linn.)." 

Tom  Bay,  Straits  of  Magellan:  "One  fine  day  in  April  we  noticed  a 
great  concourse  of  gulls  and  shags,  attracted  by  a  shoal  of  fish,  in  the 
pursuit  of  which  they  ventured  unusually  close  to  the  ship.  This  gave 
us  an  opportunity  of  observing  that  the  common  brown  gull  of  the  chan- 
nels, the  female  of  L.  Dominicanus,  behaves  towards  the  male  bird  in 
many  respects  like  the  skua.  No  sooner  would  one  of  the  '  black- 
backed'  (male)  birds  capture  a  fish,  and  rise  from  the  surface,  than  he 
would  be  attacked  by  one  of  the  brown  birds,  and  chased  vigorously 
about  the  harbour ;  the  predatory  bird  not  desisting  from  the  pursuit  until 
the  coveted  prize  had  been  dropped  by  its  rightful  owner.  This  I  noticed 
on  more  occasions  than  one.  As  a  rule,  however,  the  female  was  content 
to  fish  for  herself.  Several  Dominican  gulls  in  immature  plumage  were 
seen  amongst  the  crowd,  and  were  easily  distinguished  from  the  adults 
by  the  mottled  brown  plumage,  and  by  the  colour  of  the  mandibles  being 
green  instead  of  orange,  as  in  the  males,  and  black  as  in  the  females. 
Now  and  then  the  whole  flock  of  gulls  and  shags  would  rise  on  the  wing, 
as  they  lost  the  run  of  the  shoal  of  fish.  They  would  then  be  directed  to 
the  new  position  of  the  shoal  by  the  success  of  some  straggling  bird,  when 
a  general  rush  would  be  made  to  the  new  hunting  ground.  It  was  most 
amusing  to  witness  the  widely  different  fishing  powers  of  the  shags  and 
gulls,  and  the  consequently  unequal  competition  in  the  struggle  for  food. 
The  shag  in  flight,  on  observing  a  fish  beneath  him,  at  once  checks  him- 
self by  presenting  the  concave  side  of  his  wings  to  the  direction  in  which 
he  has  been  moving,  and  then,  flapping  legs  foremost  into  the  water,  turns 


AVES' — 'LARID^E.  221 


and  dives;  whereas  the  gull  has  first  to  settle  himself  carefully  as  he 
alights  on  the  water,  and  has  then  to  trust  to  the  chance  of  some  unso- 
phisticated fish  coming  within  reach  of  his  bill.  It  was  impossible  to 
avoid  noticing  the  mortified  appearance  of  the  poor  gulls  as  they  looked 
eagerly  about,  but  yet  caught  only  an  odd  fish,  whilst  their  comrades,  the 
shags,  were  enjoying  abundant  sport. 

"  It  is  odd  that  the  silly  gull  manages  at  all  to  survive  in  the  struggle 
for  existence.  Here  is  another  instance  of  his  incapacity.  A  piece  of 
meat,  weighing  a  few  ounces,  drifted  astern  of  the  ship  one  day,  and  for 
its  possession  a  struggle  took  place  between  a  Dominican  gull  and  a 
brown  hawk.  The  gull  had  picked  up  the  meat,  and  was  flying  away  with 
it  in  his  bill,  when  he  was  pursued  by  the  hawk — a  much  smaller  bird  — 
who  made  him  drop  it.  Again  the  gull  picked  it  up,  and  for  a  second 
time  was  compelled  by  the  hawk  to  relinquish  it.  The  latter  now 
swooped  down  upon  the  tempting  morsel,  as  it  floated  on  the  water,  and 
seizing  it  with  his  claws,  flew  off  rapidly  into  an  adjoining  thicket,  to  the 
edge  of  which  he  was  followed  by  the  disappointed  gull."  (Cop.  Cruise, 
"Alert,"  1883,  pp.  60-6 1.) 

The  Common  Brown  Gull  of  the  Channels  referred  to  by  Coppinger 
was,  probably,  one  of  the  two  species  of  Megalestris  that  frequent  this 
region. 

"Nests  are  built  of  grass  and  sea-weed,  near  the  sea,  and  are  generally 
wet  within.  Eggs  are  three  in  number,  and  in  shape  a  pointed  ovoid, 
approaching  to  pyramidal.  The  shell  is  rather  stout,  brittle,  and  com- 
posed of  two  distinct  layers  of  about  equal  thickness.  The  external  layer 
is  coarsely  granular  in  texture,  roughly  mammillated  superficially,  and  of 
a  dark  olive-drab  color,  blotched  by  irregular  spots  of  different  tints, 
Vandyke-brown,  sepia,  slate  color  and  brownish-yellow.  The  slaty 
markings  are  within  the  shell,  the  others  on  the  surface.  As  in  the  case 
of  Buphagus,  those  of  the  same  nest  are  generally  similar  in  marking, 
while  those  of  different  nests  show  considerable  variety  of  hue.  The 
internal  layer  of  the  shell  is  closer  in  texture,  of  a  pale  apple-green  color, 
and  shows  under  the  lens  innumerable  small  whitish  trapezoidal  columns 
set  transversely  to  the  surface,  in  a  matrix  of  a  pale-green  homogeneous 
basis  substance.  The  blotches  are  more  closely  aggregated  at  the  large 
end  of  the  egg  than  elsewhere,  and  vary  in  shade  according  to  their  situ- 
ation, superficial  or  deep.  Some  specimens  of  these  eggs  are  not  distin- 


222  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

guishable  with  certainty  from  those  of  northern  Gulls  —  Larus  argentatus, 
for  example."  (Natural  History  of  Kerguelen  Island,  J.  H.  Kidder,  M.  D., 
Bull.  No.  3,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  p.  10,  1876.) 

H.  N.  Moseley,  in  "Notes  by  a  Naturalist  on  the  Challenger,"  page 
212  (1879)  writes:  "Kerguelen's  Land,  January,  1874.  The  Gull 
(Larus  Dominicanus]  nests  also  on  the  open  ground  amongst  grass  tufts, 
and  the  birds  breed  in  considerable  flocks  together,  choosing  often  some 
dry  place  on  the  lower  slopes  of  a  hill-side.  I  saw  two  such  places  where 
there  were  a  few  nests  with  young  and  remains  of  many  more.  No  regu- 
lar nest  is  made.  The  young  are  brown  coloured.  The  old  birds  make 
a  great  deal  of  noise  when  the  young  are  carried  off,  but  make  no  attempt 
to  protect  them.  The  brown  color  of  the  young  is  closely  like  that  of  the 
dead  grass  in  which  they  lie,  and  under  which  they  hide  on  approach  of 
danger.  The  colour  is  protective  to  them ;  they  are,  certainly,  very  dim- 
cult  to  see  amongst  the  grass." 

"There  were  many  in  Montevideo  Bay  on  the  2nd  October  and  on  sub- 
sequent occasions,  both  adult  and  young.  The  legs  of  the  adult  in  life 
have  a  very  yellow  cast  on  the  olive.  On  the  ist  May,  about  sundown, 
I  saw  fourteen  passing  over  Sta.  Ana,  low  down,  going  south,  and  shortly 
after  at  least  a  hundred  Gulls  of  the  same  size  higher  up.  Cold  S.  W. 
winds  about  that  time."  (O.  V.  Alpin,  on  Birds  Uruguay,  Ibis,  pp.  210- 
211,  1894.) 

"Iris  pale  yellow;  bill  yellow,  with  red  spot;  eyelid  red;  tarsi  and  feet 
slate-grey,  in  the  male  washed  with  yellow. 

"This  Gull  was  abundant  in  the  Straits  of  Magellan  and  Smythe's 
Channel.  The  males  appeared  to  have  larger  bills  than  the  females."  (M. 
J.  Nicoll,  Orn.  Jour.  Voy.  round  World,  Ibis,  Jan.  1904,  pp.  46-47.) 


Genus  LEUCOPH^US  Bruch. 

TYPE. 

Leucophceus,  Bruch.,  J.  f.  O.  1853,  p.  108;  Saunders,  Cat. 
Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  299  (1896);  Sharpe,  Hand- 
List  Bds.  I.  p.  143  (1899) •£•  scoresbyi. 

Procellarus,  Bp.  Naum.  1854,  p.  211 "...     .    L.  scoresbyi. 

Epitelarus,  Bp.  Naum.  1854,  p.  211 ,    .     .;    .    L.  scoresbyi. 


AVES LARID^E.  223 

Geographical  Range.  —  Southern  South  America,  south  to  the  Antarctic 
Land  beyond  Cape  Horn.  The  Falkland  Islands.  The  New  South 
Shetland  Islands. 

LEUCOPH^EUS  SCORESBYI  (Traill). 

Larus  scoresbii,  Traill,  Mem.  Wern.  Soc.  IV.  p.  514  (1823) ;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S. 
1860,  p.  391  (Falkland  Islands);  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  165  (Falk- 
land Islands,  breeding  in  Dec.);  Schl.  Mus.  Pays  Bas.  VI.  Lari  p. 
33  (1863) ;  Pelz.  Reis.  Novara,  Vog.  p.  151  (1865:  Island  of  Chiloe) ; 
Saunders,  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  184;  id.  Jour.  Linn.  Soc.  XIV.  p.  397 
(1878);  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part  X.  p.  248 
(1888:  S.  Patagonia  and  Falkland  Islands);  Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap 
Horn,  Oiseaux,  p.  179,  pi.  3  (1891:  Santa  Cruz:  Gabble  Island: 
Packsaddle  Island:  Orange  Bay);  James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  12 
(1892);  Scl.  Ibis,  1894,  pp.  495,  497. 

Larus  hczmatorhynchus,  King.  Zool.  Journ.  IV.  p.  103  (1828);  id.  Voy. 
Advent.  &  Beagle,  I.  p.  541  (1839:  Straits  of  Magellan);  Darw. 
Voy.  "Beagle,"  Birds,  p.  142  (1841:  Port  St.  Julian,  Patagonia); 
Gray,  List  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  Part  III.  p.  170(1844:  Berkeley  Sound,  E. 
Falkland  Is.) ;  Des  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  381  (1847) ; 
Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  48  (1868:  Chiloe). 

Leucophceus  hczmatorhynchus,  Bruch.  J.  f.  O.  1853,  p.  108,  1855,  p.  287. 

Chroicocephalus  hcematorliynchtis,  Licht.  Nomencl.  Av.  Mus.  Berol.  p.  98 
(1854:  Chile). 

Leucophczus  scoresbii,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  II.  p.  231  (1857);  Scl.  &  Salv.  P. 
Z.  S.  1871,  p.  579;  iid.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  148  (1873);  Saun- 
ders, Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  299  (1896:  East  Coast  of  Pata- 
gonia, 45  S.,  Aug.);  Martens.  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  p.  17 
(1900). 

Ixucophceus  scoresbyi,  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  143  (1899) ;  Carbajal, 
La  Patagonia,  II.  p.  280  (1900);  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX. 
p.  629  (1900:  Rio  Pescado,  May);  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit. 
Mus.  I.  p.  222  (1901). 

i 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  male  (breeding).     Total  length,  about  18  inches. 

Wing,  13.2  inches. 


224 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 


Tail,  6.0  inches. 

Bill  (culmen),  1.7  inches. 

Bill  (depth  at  angle),  0.6  inches. 

Tarsus,  2.0  inches. 

Female  slightly  smaller. 

Color. — Adult  male  (breeding).  General  color  lavender  grey  with 
black  mantle  and  wings. 

Head:  Lavender  grey. 

Neck :  Lavender  grey. 

Back :  Mantle  black ;  rump  and  upper-tail  coverts  pale  grey. 

Wing:  Black,  with  white  decorations.  Primaries  black.  The  first 
primary  wholly  black,  the  second  with  a  very  small  white  tip.  This  ter- 
minal white  increases  on  each  primary  and  on  the  fifth  a  white  mirror 
appears  on  the  inner  web.  The  rest  of  the  primary  quills  have  broad 


FIG.  131. 


FIG.  132. 


LttUOphetUS  scoresbyi. 
Profile  of  head.  Adult 
male.  From  specimen  in 
Princeton  Museum. 
About  y^  natural  size. 


Leucophceus  scoresbyi. 
Profile  of  head.  Young 
of  the  year.  Specimen 
n  Princeton  Museum. 
About  natural  size. 


white  tips,  increasing  in  area  inward.  The  secondaries  are  black  and 
very  broadly  terminated  with  white.  The  scapulars  are  also  black  and 
terminate  broadly  with  white.  Upper  wing  coverts :  Black.  The  under 
wing  is  wholly  smoky  in  color. 

Lower  parts :  Entirely  lavender  grey,  rather  paler  than  on  the  top  of 
the  head  and  back  of  the  neck. 

Tail :    Pure  white.     Bill :    Bright  red,  of  a  cherry  shade.     Iris :    Pale 


AVES LARID^I.  225 

yellow,  orbital  ring  white  (Saunders).     Tarsi:   Vermilion.     Feet:  Toes 
vermilion,  the  hallux  joined-  to  the  inner  toe  by  a  distinct  web. 

Young  of  the  year  have  the  head  dusky  grey,  the  neck  entirely  brownish. 
The  mantle  is  dark  brown.  The  first  five  primaries  are  black,  'without 
white  tips,  the  remainder  much  as  in  older  birds.  The  secondaries  are 
almost  as  broadly  tipped  with  white  as  in  adults. 
Upper  tail  coverts  white  with  a  faint  grey  tinge.  Tail  IG 

white  with  a  broad  subterminal  black  band.  The  lower 
parts  are  white,  faintly  tinged  with  grey  up  to  the  breast, 
which  is  brownish  like  the  neck.  The  bill  is  deep  yel- 
low at  the  base,  shading  into  dusky  and  becoming 
almost  black  anteriorly.  The  legs  and  feet  are  pale 
brown. 

Older  birds  of  the  year  are  distinguished  by  a  sooty  jf. 

head,  in  contrast  to  the  neck  which  is  grey.     The  man-       Leucophans  scores- 

tle  is  much  darker  centrally  and  the  band  on  the  tail    &-  Older  bird  of  the 
11  ^i  L  •  1-1      year.     About  X  nat~ 

narrow  and  absent  on  the   two  outer  rectnces  which         .  . 

ural  size. 

are  nearly  white.     The  under  surface  is  pale  grey. 

Immature  birds  have  a  well  defined  sooty  hood  and  are  otherwise  much 
like  adults,  though  there  is  less  white  on  the  primaries. 

Downy  nestlings,  cold  slate  grey  closely  and  finely  spotted  above  with 
dark  umber  and  mottled  below  with  the  same  color  on  a  similar  ground 
shade. 

Geographical  Range. — As  given  for  the  genus,  this  being  the  sole 
representative  recognized. 


This  Gull  was  not  obtained  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to  Pata- 
gonia and  the  descriptions  here  given  are  based  on  the  material  in  the 
British  Museum  of  Natural  History  and  also  on  specimens  obtained  from 
the  Museo  de  La  Plata.  The  bird  is  said  to  be  quite  localized  in  distri- 
bution even  in  the  regions  where  it  occurs.  In  habit  it  is  somewhat 
parasitic  and  decidedly  predatory,  feeding  on  the  eggs  and  young  of  other 
Gulls  and  birds  which  breed  in  communities ;  and  during  the  non-breed- 
ing season  of  the  year  shell  fish  of  various  kinds  are  largely  consumed  by 
these  birds  which  do  not  subsist  to  a  great  degree  on  fish. 


226 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 


Family  STERCORARIID^E. 

Saunders,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  314(1896). 
Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  143  (1899). 

Genus  MEGALESTRIS  Bonaparte. 

Catharacta  Briinn.  Orn.  Bor.  p.  32  (1764)      .... 

Lestris,  Illiger,  Prodr.  p.  272  (1811  :  part). 

Cataractes,  Fleming,  Phil.  Zool.  p.  263  (1822)     .     .     . 

Stercorarius,  Vieill,  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  XXIII.  p.  154 
(1819)  et  auct.  (part). 

Catarracta,  Bp.  Naum.   1854,  p.  210 

Megalestris,  Bp.  Cat.  Parzudaki,  p.  11  (1856);  Saun- 
ders, Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV.  p.  314  (1896); 
Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  143  (1899)  .  .  . 

Buphagus,  Coues,  Pro.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.  1863,  p. 
125,  ex.  Moehring  (1752) 


TYPE. 
M.  catarrhactes. 

M.  catarrhactes. 


M.  antarctica. 


M.  catarrhactes. 


M.  catarrhactes. 


Geographical  Range.  —  North  and  South  Atlantic  Ocean,  the  Southern 
Indian  Ocean,  the  Antarctic  regions,  the  seas  about  New  Zealand. 


MEGALESTRIS  CHILENSIS  (Bonaparte). 

Stercorarius  antarcticus,  Des  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  481 
(1847);  phil-  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  47  (1868). 

Catarracta  catarractes,  Licht.  Nomencl.  Av.  Mus.  Berol.  p.  99  (1854: 
Chile). 

Lestris  antarctica,  Scl.  &  Salv.  (nee  Less),  Ibis,  1869,  p.  284  (Sta.  Mag- 
dalena,  Straits  of  Magellan). 

Stercoraritis  chilensis,  Saunders,  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  323,  pi.  XXIV.  1877 
p.  800  (Straits  of  Magellan) ;  id.  Voy  Chall.  II.  p.  140  (1880:  Eliza- 
beth Isl.);  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  17  (Talcahuano,  Sept.:  Straits 
of  Magellan);  Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  172,  332 
(1891  :  Santa  Cruz,  Patagonia,  Nov.). 

Megalestris  chilensis,  Saunders,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XX.  p.  318  (1896); 
Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  655  (1898;  Coquimbo,  Oct. :  Sao 


O 

— 


1 1 

£  i 
•c  c 


AVES STERCORARIIDyE.  227 

Huivantazgo,  Feuerland,  Jan. :  Sene  Almirantazgo,  Jan.) ;  Sharpe, 
Hand  List  Bds.  I.  p.  143  (1899)  ;  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2) 
XX.  p.  629  (1900:  Santa  Cruz,  Patagonia) ;  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh. 
Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  17  (1900);  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs.  Brit.  Mus.  I, 
p.  225  (1901).  Nicoll,  Ibis,  1904,  p.  47  (Port  Dixon  and  Gray's 
Harbor). 
Lestris  antarcticus,  var.  b.  chilensis,  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  II.  p.  207  (1857). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Total  length,  about  21  inches. 

Wing,  15.5  inches. 

Tail,  6.5  inches. 

Culmen,  2.3  inches. 

Tarsus,  2.75  inches. 

Color. — Adult  (unworn  plumage).  General  color,  upper  parts  brown 
with  chestnut  markings  on  mantle  and  whitish  striping  on  the  neck. 
Lower  parts  reddish  chestnut  brown. 

Head :  Generally  brown,  deepening  to  dark  brown  on  forehead,  crown 
and  occiput. 

Neck :  Above,  brown  striped  with  narrow  white  or  greyish  streaks,  and 
with  chestnut  mottling.  Under  neck  including  chin  and  throat  warm 
chestnut,  rusty  or  deep  cinnamon. 

Back :  Mantle  brown,  the  feathers  streaked  medianly  with  rusty  red 
chestnut ;  the  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  chiefly  chestnut. 

Wings :  Chiefly  brown,  dark  in  shade  and  with  suggestions  of  chestnut 
on  the  upper  wing  coverts.  The  quills  are  dark  brown ;  four  of  the  outer 
ones  with  .white  bases  which  show  most  conspicuously  from  below. 
Under  wing  coverts  chiefly  chestnut. 

Tail :  Dark  brown. 

Lower  parts,  chin,  throat,  breast  and  abdomen  reddish  chestnut  or  deep 
rusty  cinnamon.  The  under  tail  coverts  chestnut  with  dark  brown  mottling. 
Flanks  and  sides  shaded  with  dark  brown.  Bill :  Dark  reddish  umber. 
Tarsi :  Black,  frequently  mottled  with  yellowish.  Toes :  Black ;  webs 
dusky  brown.  Iris :  Dark  hazel  brown. 

"Male:  Straits  of  Magellan,  December,  1879.  Bill,  legs  and  feet 
black;  eyes  brown. 


228  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

"Female:  Talcahuano,  September,  1879.  Eyes  dark  brown;  legs  and 
feet  black."  (Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  17.) 

There  appears  to  be  no  difference  in  the  color  of  the  sexes ;  the  plum- 
age is  frequently  dull,  however,  from  wear. 

Immature  birds  are  less  ruddy  above  and  the  areas  of  chestnut  are  not  so 
conspicuous,  but  this  color  is  always  a  strong  characteristic. 

Young  birds  of  the  year  are  similar  to  the  immature,  but  the  chestnut 
decorations  on  the  mantle  are  confined  to  the  edges  of  the  feathers,  there 
being  no  central  chestnut  streaking. 

"Bill  slate-colour;  iris  black;  tarsi  and  toes  slate,  with  a  few  lavender 
streaks."  (S.  F.  Rowland.) 

Geographical  Range.  — Coast  of  South  America,  Atlaptic  coast  from  Rio 
de  Janeiro  southward  to  the  Straits  of  Magellan  and  throughout  the  Straits. 
Pacific  coast  from  the  Straits  of  Magellan  north  to  Callao,  Peru. 

This  Skua  was  not  obtained  by  the  Princeton  Expeditions  to  Pata- 
gonia. The  data  for  descriptions  is  based  on  the  material  in  the  British 
Museum  of  Natural  History  and  in  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Natural 
Sciences. 

The  habits  of  the  Chilian  Skua  do  not  appear  to  differ  radically  from 
their  congeners  of  the  North  Atlantic.  Gates  cites  a  single  egg  taken  at 
Sen  Sive  Island,  Santa  Cruz  River,  Patagonia,  on  December  3.  He 
speaks  of  it  "as  inseparable  from  many  of  the  eggs  of  the  Great  Skua." 
M.  catarrhastes  (Linn.).  (Op.  cit.  ante.) 

"This  fine  Skua  was  not  uncommon  in  the  Straits  of  Magellan  and 
Smythe's  Channel.  Several  times  four  or  five  birds  followed  us  into  our 
anchorage.  They  were  very  wary,  and  I  found  that  the  best  way  to  pro- 
cure them  was  to  tie  a  dead  Cormorant  to  a  long  string  and  let  it  drift 
away  from  the  ship.  A  Skua  would  soon  discover  it  and  come  down  to 
tear  it  to  pieces ;  when  thus  engaged  it  might  be  approached  without  diffi- 
culty." (M.  J.  Nicoll,  Orn.  Jour.  Voy.  round  World,  Ibis,  Jan.  1904,  p.  47.) 

MEGALESTRIS  ANTARCTICA  (Lesson). 

Port  Egmont  Hen,  Hawksw.  Voy.  II.  p.  283  (1769:  Falkland  Islands). 
Lestris  catarrhactes,   Quoy  &  Gaim.  Voy.  Uranie,   Zool.  p.    137,  pi.   38 
(1824:  Falklands). 


AVES STERCORARIID^;.  229 

Lestris  antarticus,  Less.  Traite  d'Orn.  p.  616  (1831  :  Des  iles  Malouines) ; 
Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  390  (Falkland  Islands);  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p. 
165  (Falkland  Islands,  breeds  in  Dec.);  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1871, 
p.  579;  iid.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  148  (1873:  Falkland  Islands); 
Biirm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  partX.  p.  248  (1888:  Straits 
of  Magellan  and  Falkland  Islands). 

Megatestris  antarctica,  Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1859,  p.  98  (Falkland  Islands, 
eggs) ;  Saunders,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXV,  p.  319  (1896:  Falkland 
Islands) ;  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  144  (1899) ;  Carbajal,  La  Pata- 
gonia, part  II.  p.  280  (1900);  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr. 
Vog.  p.  17  (1900:  Falkland  Islands);  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs,  Brit. 
Mus.  I.  226  (1901). 

Stercorarius  antarticus,  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  47  (1868) ;  Saun- 
ders, P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  321,  1877,  p.  799  (Falkland  Islands) ;  id.  Voy. 
Chall.  II.  Birds,  p.  139  (1880);  Oust.  Miss.  Sci.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux, 
pp.  169,  332  (1891  :  Orange  Bay:  Elizabeth  Island  :  Edwards  Bay  : 
Falkland  Islands) ;  Scl.  Ibis.  1894,  pp.  495,  497. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.1  —  Total  length,  23  to  24  inches. 

Wing,  15.5  to  16.5  inches. 

Tail,  6.5  to  7.0  inches. 

Bill  (culmen),  2.5  inches. 

Bill  (greatest  depth),  i.o  inches. 

Tarsus,  3.0  to  3.25  inches. 

Color.  —  Adult  male.  General  color  dark  dull  brown  above,  paler  and 
more  smoky  brown  below. 

Head :  Crown  deep  dull  brown,  shading  to  somewhat  lighter  on  the 
sides  of  head  and  face. 

Neck :  Dull  dark  brown,  a  trifle  lighter  than  the  crown.  The  feathers  of 
the  back  of  the  neck  are  acuminate  and  sometimes  shaded  with  yellowish. 

1  These  measurements  are  taken  as  about  the  extremes  of  birds  from  the  Southern  Ocean. 
The  wing  sometimes  reaches  a  length  of  1 7  inches  however.  Representatives  from  the  Falkland 
Islands  average  appreciably  smaller,  being  only  about  21  inches  long,  and  with  the  culmen  above 
2.2  inches.  The  wing  15.0  and  the  tail  about  6.4  inches. 

These  variations  in  size  have  been  noticed  by  Dr.  Coues,  Mr.  Saunders  and  other  authorities 
in  works  cited  above,  and  appear  to  have  no  correlation  with  sex,  though  extreme  age  is  doubtless 
a  factor. 


230  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

Back :  With  the  mantle  dull  deep  brown  with  few,  if  any,  chestnut  or 
rufous  markings,  the  feathers  often  with  apparent  greyish  fringing  and  a 
similar  appearance  at  the  tips,  due  to  wear.  Lower  back  and  rump  some- 
what lighter  than  mantle. 

Wing:  Like  the  mantle,  the  quills  shading  into  dirty  whitish  at  their 
bases  and  together  forming  a  bar  of  white  very  noticeable  in  flight.  The 
under  wing  coverts  are  dark  dull  brown. 

Tail :  Dark  dull  brown  ;  short  and  even  with  little  or  no  lengthening  of 
the  two  middle  tail  feathers. 

Lower  parts :  The  entire  lower  surface  is  uniform  dull  brown,  a  little 
paler  in  shade  than  the  upper  surface. 

Bill :  Black.  Noticeably  stout.  Tarsus :  Black,  sometimes  mottled 
with  yellow.  Toes :  Black,  the  webs  a  little  paler.  Iris :  Dark  hazel 
brown. 

Immature  birds  are  similar  to  the  adults,  except  that  the  crown  does 
not  contrast  with  the  sides  of  the  head  and  face,  and  the  acuminate  feathers 
on  the  neck  have  no  yellowish  shading. 

Young  birds  of  the  year  are  similar  to  immature  birds,  but  have  per- 
ceptible rufous  shading  on  the  lower  surface  and  on  the  ends  of  the 
feathers  of  the  mantle  and  upper  wing  coverts. 

Downy  young,  are  light  buff  below,  darkening  in  tone  on  the  upper 
parts. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Southern  Oceans;  Straits  of  Magellan  and 
American  Antarctica.  The  Falkland  Islands,  South  Georgia,  Tristan  da 
Cunha,  Prince  Edward,  Marion,  Crozets,  Kerguelen  and  Heard  Islands. 

New  Zealand  and  adjacent  Islands,  Australian  Seas  north  to  Norfolk 
Islands,  St.  Paul  and  Amsterdam  Islands  and  north  to  Madagascar  and 
the  Comoro  Group. 


The  Antarctic  Skua  was  not  obtained  by  the  Princeton  University 
Expeditions  to  Patagonia,  and  the  description  here  given  is  based  on 
material  in  the  Museum  of  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences 
and  a  fine  series  in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History. 

"The  tameness  of  the  birds,  in  general,  was  most  remarkable.  The 
brown  skua  gulls  (Lestris  antarcticus],  of  which  there  were  numbers,  flew 


AVES STERCORARIID^E.  23 1 

about  us,  uttering  their  harsh,  scolding  cries,  and  several  times,  when 
walking  by  myself,  they  swooped  at  me  in  such  a  menacing  manner  that 
I  was  obliged  to  make  them  keep  their  distance  by  striking  at  them  with 
my  stick.  The  common  brown  duck  of  the  Strait  swam  in  flocks  close  to 
the  beach,  and  the  kelp  geese  ( Chlcephaga  antarctica)  were  almost  equally 
bold.  The  upland  geese  (Chlcephaga  magellanicd]  were  plentiful,  and 
allowed  the  sportsmen  to  approach  within  a  few  yards  of  them  without 
taking  alarm,  and  a  pair  which  I  disturbed  in  one'  spot  ran  along  in  front 
of  me  without  taking  the  trouble  to  fly  off.  I  observed  several  specimens 
of  a  large  owl,  and  two  species  of  hawks,  one  a  dark-coloured  bird,  which 
I  had  not  seen  in  the  strait,  the  other  coloured  much  like  a  kestril,  but 
about  twice  the  size  of  that  bird.  One  of  the  latter  flew  about  so  close  to 
me  that  I  threw  my  stick  at  it  once  or  twice,  and  on  one  of  these  occasions 
it  cooly  lighted  on  the  missile  as  it  fell  to  the  ground.  I  have  already,  I 
think,  remarked  on  the  much  greater  tameness  of  certain  species  of  birds 
at  the  Falkland  Islands,  as  compared  with  the  same  kinds  in  the  Strait,  a 
circumstance  which,  perhaps,  may  be  partially  accounted  for  by  the  greater 
scarcity  of  foxes  in  the  former  locality."  (Cunn.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell. 
1871.  pp.  296-297.)  (Falkland  Islands.) 

The  habits  of  this  Skua  are  dwelt  on  by  H.  N.  Mosely,  and  a  few 
extracts  are  here  appended.  (Notes  by  a  Naturalist  on  the  "Challenger," 
pages  123,  131,  174,  190,  254  (1879). 

Inaccessible  Island,  Tristan  da  Cunha,  October,  1873.  "I  went  along 
the  beach,  and  through  a  second  wood  towards  the  waterfall,  where  was 
the  hut  of  the  Germans,  and  their  potato  ground.  A  flock  of  thirty  or 
forty  predatory  gulls  (Stercorarius  Antarcticus],  were  quarrelling  and 
fighting  over  the  bodies  of  penguins,  the  skins  of  which  had  been  taken 
in  considerable  numbers  by  our  various  parties  on  shore.  The  Skua 
is  a  gull  which  has  acquired  a  sharp  curved  beak,  and  sharp  claws  at  the 
tips  of  its  webbed  toes.  The  birds  are  thoroughly  predaceous  in  their 
habits,  quartering  their  ground  on  the  look-out  for  carrion,  and  assembling 
in  numbers  where  there  is  anything  killed,  in  the  same  curious  way  as 
vultures. 

"They  steal  eggs  and  young  birds  from  the  penguins  when  they  get  a 
chance,  but  their  principal  food  here  appears  to  be  the  night  birds,  espe- 
cially the  Prions,  which  they  drag  from  their  holes,  or  pounce  on  as  soon 
as  they  come  out  of  them.  The  place  was  strewed  with  the  skeletons  of 


232  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Prions,  with  the  meat  torn  off  of  them  by  these  gulls,  which  leave  behind 
the  bones  and  feathers. 

"The  Antarctic  Skua  is  very  similar  in  appearance  to  the  large  northern 
Skua,  of  which  a  figure  is  given  here  in  default  of  better.  The  two  species 
were  at  first  considered  by  naturalists  to  be  identical ;  they  differ,  how- 
ever, especially  in  the  structure  of  the  bill.  The  Skua  is  of  a  dark  brown 
colour,  not  unlike  that  of  most  of  the  typical  birds  of  prey.  We  met  with 
the  bird  constantly  afterwards  on  our  southern  voyage,  as  far  down  even 
as  the  Antarctic  Circle ;  and  a  specimen  was  noticed  by  Ross  further  south 
still,  in  Possession  Island." 

Nightingale  Island,  Tristan  da  Cunha,  October,  1873.  "Besides  the 
mollymauks  and  petrels,  one  or  two  pairs  of  Skuas  had  nests  on  a  few 
mounds  of  earth  in  the  rookery.  How  these  mounds  came  there  I  could 
not  understand. 

"The  Skuas'  eggs  are  closely  like  those  of  the  lesser  black-backed  gull, 
and  two  in  number.  The  birds  swooped  about  our  heads  as  we  robbed 
the  nests,  but  were  not  nearly  so  fierce  as  those  we  encountered  further 
south.  All  round  their  nests  were  scattered  skeletons  of  Prions." 

Marion  Island,  Prince  Edward  Islands,  December,  1873.  "There 
were  numerous  nests  of  the  Skua  about  amongst  the  herbage  in  dry 
places.  Two  nests  of  these  birds  are  never  built  near  together.  The 
birds  always  have  a  wide  range  of  hunting  ground  round  their  nest. 
The  Skuas  in  Marion  Island  were  extremely  bold  and  savage,  as  they 
were  also  in  Kerguelen's  Land.  When  one  approaches  the  nest  they 
swoop  down,  passing  with  a  rush  close  down  to  one's  head,  whizzing'  past 
one's  ears  in  a  most  unpleasant  manner. 

"The  two  birds  take  turns  at  towering  above,  and  thus  swooping.  They 
have  sharp  claws  and  beaks,  and  no  doubt  would  injure  one's  face  or  eyes 
severely  if  they  touched  them  as  they  passed.  One  has  to  beat  them  off 
with  a  stick  or  gun  barrel.  They  are  very  clever  in  avoiding  the  stick  as 
they  rush  past,  but  several  were  knocked  down.  Sometimes  I  have  had 
to  waste  a  charge  on  them  to  get  rid  of  them.  Some  pairs  are  much  more 
savage  than  others.  They  have  a  harsh  cry.  Of  course,  when  their  young 
is  handled  they  are  most  furious,  and  one  has  to  keep  a  stick  going  as  one 
carries  it  off.  The  birds  are  very  like  the  Northern  Skuas  in  their  habits. 
One  of  them  swooped  down  on  a  duck  which  I  had  shot  one  day  at  Ker- 
guelen's Land  which  fell  in  the  water.  The  bird  picked  it  up  when  I  was 


AVES STERCORARIID/E.  233 

not  more  than  half  a  dozen  yards  off,  and  was  making  off  with  it  in  its 
beak,  carrying  it  easily,  when  I  brought  it  down  with  a  second  shot,  the 
duck  thus  costing  me  two  barrels." 

Kerguelen's  Land,  January,  1874.  "Some  of  the  teal  were  breeding  at 
the  time  of  our  visit ;  some  with  young  full-fledged  and  already  away 
from  the  nest ;  others  with  eggs.  The  nest  is  a  neat  one,  placed  under 
a  tuft  of  grass,  and  lined  with  down  torn  from  the  breast  of  the  parent 
bird.  There  were  five  eggs  in  one  nest  that  I  found. 

"The  duck,  when  put  up  off  the  nest,  to  effect  which  the  nest  requires 
almost  to  be  trodden  upon,  or  when  found  with  her  young  away  from  the 
nest,  flutters  a  few  yards  only,  as  if  maimed,  and  pitches  again,  and  can- 
not be  frightened  into  a  long  flight.  It  is  curious  that  the  bird  should 
have  retained  this  instinct  where  there  are  no  four-footed  or  human 
enemies ;  possibly  she  finds  it  a  successful  ruse  when  the  brood  is  attacked 
by  the  skuas. 

"The  young  must  fall  constantly  a  prey  to  these  ever-watchful  Skuas,  for 
in  most  cases  I  found  only  a  single  young  one  following  the  mother. 
There  were  no  young  met  with  in  the  condition  of  flappers,  and  the  gen- 
eral breeding  season  was  probably  only  about  to  begin,  as  it  was  with 
many  birds  of  the  island.  The  greater  part  of  the  birds  were  yet  in  flocks." 

Amongst  the  Southern  Ice,  February-March,  1874.  "Besides  these  two 
Petrels  we  saw  when  at  the  edge  of  the  pack,  the  Sooty  Albatross  (Dio- 
medea  fuliginosd],  the  Giant  Petrel  (Ossifraga  gigantea),  Majaqueus  [sic] 
cequinoctialis  and  the  Cape  Pigeon.  These  birds  all  left  us  when  we  entered 
the  edge  of  the  pack-ice ;  they  appear  to  remain  at  its  very  margin ;  but 
in  the  ice  we  met  with  a  Skua  (Stercorarius  antarcticus),  which  bird  ranges 
very  far  south,  and  was  seen  in  Possession  Island,  within  the  Antarctic 
Circle,  by  Ross." 

Dr.  Kidder  says:  "The  nests  are  shallow  cavities  in  the  long  grass, 
sparingly  lined  with  grass-stems,  and  always  situated  in  a  dry  spot, 
xiggs  are  only  two  in  number  in  the  four  instances  observed ;  first  found 
November  17.  A  single  egg  was  found  December  20  in  a  nest  robbed 
December  3.  The  shape  is  very  broad  ovoid,  tapering  rapidly  to  a  sharp 
point.  Shell  is  brittle  and  of  loose  texture,  being  composed  of  irreglarly 
prismatic  bodies  set  side  by  side  perpendicularly  to  the  surface.  Exter- 
nally it  is  coarsely  granular.  Color  is  dark  olive  drab,  marked  superficially 
by  irregular  blotches  of  Vandyke-brown.  Deeper  markings  appear  as 


234  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

blotches  of  dark  bluish  stone  color.  The  blotches  are  more  plentiful  over 
the  butt-end.  Those  of  the  same  nest  agree  generally  in  color,  but  different 
clutches  show  considerable  variety  of  tint.  Nos.  134^  and  b  (original 
number),  for  example,  are  generally  of  a  pale  olive-grey,  and  the  blotches 
are  scarcely  deeper  in  hue  than  dirty  Indian-yellow."  (Natural  History 
of  Kerguelen  Island,  J.  H.  Kidder,  M.  D.  Bull.,  No.  3,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus. 
P-  9,  1876.) 

;  ;      '         Order  CHARADRIIFORMES. 
Sharpe,  Classif.  Bds.  p.  72  (1891);  id.,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  144  (1899). 

Suborder   CHIONIDES. 
Sharpe,  Classif.  Bds.  p.  72  (1891);  id.,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  145  (1899). 

Family  CHIONIDID.E. 

Sharpe,  Cat.  Birds,  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  710  (1896) ;  id.,  Hand-List  Bds. 
I.  p.  145  (1899). 

Genus  CHIONIS  Forster. 

Type. 

Chionis,  Forster,  Enchiridion  Hist.  Nat.  p.  37  (1788)  ;  Sharpe, 
Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  710  (1896);  id.,  Hand-List 
Bds.  I.  p.  145  (1899) C.  alba. 

Vaginalis,  Gmelin  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  705  (1788) C.  alba. 

Coleorhamphus,  Dumont,  Diet.  Sci.  Nat.  X.  p.  36  (1818)     .     .     C.  alba. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Extreme  southern  South  America  and  adjacent 
islands. 

CHIONIS  ALBA  (Gmelin). 

White  Sheath-bill,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  I.  p.  268,  pi.  89  (1785). 

Vaginalis  alba,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  705  (1788). 

Chionis  alba,  Quoy  &  Gaim.  Voy.  Uranie,  Zool.  p.  131,  pi.  35  (1824); 
Garn.  &  Less.  Voy.  Coq.  Zool.  I.  p.  724  (1826);  Blainv.  Ann.  Sci. 
Nat.  VI.  p.  97  (1836);  Darwin,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p.  118  (1841  : 
Falkland  Islands);  Gray,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  Part  III.  p.  51  (1844: 


Chionis  alba  (Gmelin).     About  ft  natural  size. 


AVES CHIONIDID/E.  235 

Straits  of  Magellan:  Falkland  Is.);  Des  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil. 
Zool.  I.  p.  389  (1847);  Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1859,  p.  95  (Falkland 
Islands);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  386  (Falkland  Is.);  Abbott,  Ibis, 
1861,  p.  154  (Falklands,  resident);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Ibis,  1869,  p.  284 
(Dungeness  Spit,  Feb.) ;  Cunningh.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.  p.  262 
(1871);  Vincig.  Patag.  p.  59  (1883);  id.  Boll.  Soc.  Geogr.  Ital.  (2) 
IX.  p.  798  (1884) ;  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part  X. 
p.  246  (1888:  South  Patagonia:  Tierra  del  Fuego:  Falkland 
Islands) ;  Oust.  Miss.  Scient.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  288,  330 
(1891) ;  Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  710  (1896) ;  id.  Hand- 
list Bds.  I.  p.  145  (1899) ;  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  '(2)  XX.  p.  624 
(1900:  Rio  Gallegos,  July) ;  Martens,  Hamburg,  Magalh.  Sammelr. 
Vog.  p.  15  (1900). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size,  Adult.  —  Total  length,  15  inches. 

Wing,  8.8  inches. 

Culmen,  1.3  inches. 

Tail,  4  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.75  inches. 

Color,  Adult.  —  Pure  snowy  white  throughout:  "bill  black,  with  the 
base  of  both  mandibles  sulphur-yellow  or  greenish  yellow,  in  some  horny 
reddish  or  of  the  pale  colour  of  the  human  finger-nail ;  face  bare,  covered 
with  milky-white  papillae ;  from  the  fore  part  of  the  crown  a  narrow  band 
continued  to  the  angle  of  the  culmen  and  from  the  angle  of  the  gape 
beneath  the  eyes  bare ;  feet  bluish  dusky ;  iris  reddish  dusky  ;  eyelids 
bare  with  white  papillae."  (J.  R.  Forster). 

* 

Geographical  Range.  — That  of  genus. 

Though  common  in  the  Straits  of  Magellan,  the  Snowy  Sheathbill  was 
not  obtained  by  the  naturalists  of  the  Princeton  University  Expeditions 
to  Patagonia.  The  fine  series  of  this  bird  in  the  British  Museum  of  Nat- 
ural History  as  well  as  specimens  in  the  American  Museum  in  New  York 
and  in  the  collections  of  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences 
have  together  formed  a  basis  for  the  description  given.  The  color  of  the 
bare  and  exposed  parts  of  the  face  and  about  the  bill  can  only  be  real- 


236  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

ized  in  a  live  or  freshly  killed  bird,  hence  we  have  quoted  such  a  diagnosis 
from  a  famous  field  naturalist,  to  complete  the  theme.  Appended  is  Dr. 
Cunningham's  account  of  this  bird. 

"At  about  3  P.  M.  on  the  iyth  of  November,  1867,  Cape  Virgins,  the 
eastern  entrance  to  the  Strait  of  Magellan,  was  sighted.  As  we  entered 
the  Strait  and  approached  Dungeness  Spit,  a  most  remarkable  spectacle 
was  furnished  by  a  herd  of  between  fifty  and  sixty  sea-lions  assembled 
on  the  shelving  beach ;  and  soon  after  someone  pointed  out  several  so- 
called  '  pigeons '  flying  about  not  far  from  us.  These,  which  it  was  very 
pardonable  to  mistake  for  pigeons,  from  the  resemblance  in  flight  and 
colouring,  I  immediately  recognized  as  the  sheathbill  (Chionis  alba],  which 
we  did  not  meet  with  on  the  previous  season.  This  interesting  bird  forms 
one  of  two  species  of  a  genus,  regarding  the  true  position  of  which  in  the 
ornithological  system  considerable  difference  of  opinion  has  been  enter- 
tained by  ornithologists  —  some  placing  it  among  the  Gallinae,  while 
others,  and  I  think  with  more  reason,  are  disposed  to  regard  it  as  belong- 
ing to  the  Grallae  and  allied  to  Haematopus.  The  above  species,  which 
derives  its  English  name  from  the  peculiar  form  of  the  upper  mandible, 
was  first  described  by  Forster,  and  is  mentioned  in  Cook's  Voyage  toward 
the  South  Pole  in  1772-75,  as  having  been  found  at  Staten  Land.  Cook 
remarks  very  truly  that  the  bird  'is  about  the  size  of  a  pigeon,  and  as 
white  as  milk,'  and  mentions  that  it  has  a  very  disagreeable  smell,  a  cir- 
cumstance also  commented  on  by  Mr.  Darwin,  but  which  I  did  not  notice 
in  the  two  specimens  which  I  had  an  opportunity  of  examining.  The 
legs  are  long,  of  a  blackish-gray  colour,  and  bear  a  considerable  resem- 
blance to  those  of  an  oyster-catcher  (Haematopus).  They  feed  on 
molluscs  and  other  marine  animals,  and  are  often  to  be  seen  far  out  at 
sea  to  the  south  of  Cape  Horn.  In  the  Strait  of  Magellan,  however,  they 
do  not  appear  to  be  common,  as  I  only  noticed  them  on  one  or  two  occa- 
sions." (Voyage  of  H.M.S.  "Nassau"  in  the  years  1866,  '67,  '68  and 
'69.  Robert  O.  Cunningham,  M.D.,  F.L.S.,  Naturalist  to  the  Expedition, 
Edinburgh,  1871.) 

Darwin,  observing  the  White  Sheathbill  during  the  voyage  of  the 
"Beagle,"  writes  regarding  it: 

"I  opened  the  stomach  of  a  specimen  at  the  Falkland  Islands,  and 
found  in  it  small  shells,  chiefly  Patellae,  pieces  of  sea-weed,  and  several 
pebbles.  The  contents  of  the  stomach  and  body  smelt  most  offensively. 


AVES CHIONIDID/E.  237 

Forster  remarked  this  circumstance ;  but  since  his  time  other  observers, 
namely,  Anderson,  Quoy,  Gaimard  and  Lesson  (Manuel  d'Ornithologie, 
torn.  II,  p.  342)  have  found  that  this  is  not  always  the  case,  and  they  state 
that  they  have  actually  eaten  the  Chionis.  I  was  not  aware  of  these 
observations,  but  independently  was  much  surprised  at  the  extraordinary 
odour  exhaled.  We,  like  voyagers  in  the  Antarctic  seas,  were  struck  at 
the  great  distance  from  land  at  which  this  bird  is  found  in  the  open  ocean. 
Its  feet  are  not  webbed,  its  flight  is  not  like  that  of  the  pelagic  birds,  and 
the  contents  of  its  stomach  and  structure  of  legs  show  that  it  is  a  coast- 
feeder.  Does  it  frequent  the  floating  icebergs  of  the  Antarctic  Ocean,  on 
which  sea-weed  and  other  refuse  is  sometimes  cast?"  (Darwin,  Voyage 
of  the  Beagle,  Birds,  page  118,  1841.) 

Moseley's  account  of  the  habits  of  Chionarchus  minor,  as  he  observed  it 
breeding  in  Kerguelen,  are  appended  as  throwing  additional  light  on  the 
habits  of  the  Sheathbills. 

"On  one  of  the  digging  excursions  I  found  a  nest  of  the  Sheathbill 
(Chionis  minor],  and  subsequently  found  several  others.  The  bird  has  a 
wide  range,  corresponding  to  that  of  the  Kerguelen  cabbage,  occurring 
like  it  in  the  Prince  Edward  Islands,  the  Crozets  and  Heard  Islands. 

"The  birds  (the  'Paddy'  of  the  sealers)  are  present  everywhere  on  the 
coast,  and  from  their  extreme  tameness  and  inquisitive  habits  are  always 
attracting  one's  attention.  A  pair  or  two  of  them  always  forms  part  of 
any  view  on  the  coast.  The  birds  are  pure  white,  about  the  size  of  a 
large  pigeon,  but  with  the  appearance  rather  of  a  fowl.  They  have  light 
pink-coloured  legs,  with  partial  webbing  of  the  toes,  small  spurs  on  the 
inner  side  of  the  wings,  like  the  spur-winged  plover,  and  a  black  bill  with 
a  most  curious  curved  lamina  of  horny  matter  projecting  over  the  nostrils. 
Round  the  eye  is  a  tumid  pink  ring  bare  of  feathers ;  about  the  head  are 
wattle-like  warts. 

"The  birds  have  been  examined  anatomically  by  De  Blainville,  who 
concluded  that  they  were  nearly  related  to  the  Oyster-catchers.  The 
birds  nest  under  fallen  rocks  along  the  cliffs,  often  in  places  where  the 
nest  is  difficult  of  access.  The  nest  is  made  of  grass  and  bents,  and  the 
eggs  are  usually  two  in  number  and  of  the  shape  of  those  of  the  Plovers 
and  of  a  somewhat  similar  colouring,  spotted  dark  red  and  brown.  They 
have  been  described  and  figured  by  Gould,  and  he  considers  the  eggs  to 
show  further  alliance  of  the  Sheathbills  to  the  Plovers.  I  found  two  nests 


238  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

with  three  eggs,  but  two  is  the  most  usual  number.  The  young  are  black 
on  coming  from  the  egg,  following  the  usual  law  with  white  birds,  the 
white  coloring  being  a  lately  acquired  peculiarity.  The  young  one  has 
the  nostrils  wide  open  and  merely  a  tumidity  about  the  posterior  margin 
of  the  nostrils  and  across  the  beak  where  the  sheath  is  commencing  to 
grow  out. 

"On  sitting  down  on  the  rocks  where  there  are  pairs  of  Sheathbills 
about,  one  soon  has  them  around  him,  uttering  a  harsh,  half-warning, 
half-inquisitive  cry  on  first  seeing  one,  and  venturing  gradually  nearer 
and  nearer,  standing  and  gazing  up  at  the  intruder,  .with  their  heads 
turned  on  one  side.  The  birds  come  frequently  within  reach  of  a  stick 
and  can  often  be  knocked  over  in  that  way,  or  bowled  over  with  a  big 
stone,  as  they  will  sit  quietly  and  allow  half  a  dozen  stones,  as  big  as 
themselves  almost,  to  be  thrown  at  them. 

"  At  length,  only  after  being  narrowly  missed  several  times,  they  take 
flight,  and  make  off,  uttering  their  harsh  note  a  succession  of  times.  If  a 
bird  be  knocked  over  with  a  stick,  it  is  usually  only  stunned,  the  sheath- 
bills  are  very  tenacious  of  life.  If  the  one  thus  caught  be  tied  by  the  leg 
with  a  string  and  allowed  to  flutter  on  the  rocks,  in  front  of  one  as  one 
sits,  the  neighboring  sheath-bills  will  come  at  once  to  fight  with  it  and 
peck  it,  and  can  be  knocked  over  one  after  another.  When  courting 
one  another,  the  birds  show  all  the  attitudes  of  pigeons,  the  male  bowing 
his  head  up  and  down  and  strutting,  making  a  sort  of  cooing  noise. 

"  The  birds  eat  seaweed  and  shell  fish,  mussels  and  limpets,  besides 
acting  as  scavengers,  as  already  mentioned.  They  carry  quantities  of 
limpets  and  mussel  shells  up  to  the  clefts  or  holes  under  the  rocks  which 
they  frequent.  They  readily  feed  in  confinement,  and  we  had  several  on 
board  the  ship,  running  about  quite  at  home.  One  of  them  established 
itself  in  one  of  the  cutters  for  a  short  time,  and  used  to  take  a  fly  around 
during  the  voyage  to  Heard  Island  and  return  again  to  the  ship. 

"The  birds,  though  usually  to  be  seen  running  on  the  rocks,  can  fly 
remarkably  well,  and  their  flight  is  like  that  of  a  pigeon.  I  have  seen  them 
flying  at  a  great  height  about  the  cliffs  of  Christmas  Harbour."  (Notes 
by  a  naturalist  on  the  "Challenger,"  H.  N.  Moseley,  M.A.,  F.R.S.,  1879, 
pp.  209  to  211.) 


AVES THINOCORYTHID^E.  239 

Suborder  A  TTA  GIDES. 
Sharpe,  Classif.  Bds.  p.  72  (1891);  id.,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  145  (1899). 

Family  THINOCORYTHID^:. 

Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  714  (1896);  id.,  Hand-List  Bds. 
I.  p.  145  (1899). 

Genus  ATTAGIS  Lesson  &  Isid.  Geoffrey  St.  Hilaire. 

Type. 

Attagis,  Lesson  &  Isid.  Geoffr.  St.  Hilaire,  Cent.  Zool.  pi. 
XLVII  (1830) ;  Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  714 
(1896);  id.,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  145  (1899) A.  gayi. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Peculiar  to  South  America.  Peru,  Chili,  Ar- 
gentina, Patagonia;  regions  about  the  Straits  of  Magellan.  The  Falk- 
land Islands. 

ATTAGIS  GAYI  Lesson. 

Attagis  gayi,  Less.  Cent.  Zool.  p.  135,  pi.  47  (1830)  ;  id.  Traite  d'Orn.  p. 
522  (1831)  ;  Gould  in  Darwin's  Voy.  'Beagle,'  Birds,  p.  117  (1841  : 
Cordilleras  of  Coquimbo  and  Copiago)  ;  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  520 
(1845)  ;  Bridges,  P.  Z.  S.  1837,  P-  29  (Tapaquilcha,  14,000  ft.:  Bolivia, 
breeding)  ;  De  Murs,  Faun.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  384  (1847)  !  Reichenb. 
Gall.  tab.  CLXXXI.  fig.  1554  (1850);  Bp.  C.  R.  XLIII.  p.  420 
(1856)  ;  Gray,  List  Gall.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  94  (1867)  ;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867, 
p.  331  (Chili)  ;  id.  &  Salv.  Exotic  Orn.  p.  158  (1869)  ;  Gray,  Hand-1. 
B.  III.  p.  20,  no.  10052  (1871)  ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr. 
p.  144  (1873)  ;  Tacz.  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  557  (Junin)  ;  id.  Orn.  Perou, 
III.  p.  284  (1886)  ;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1891,  p.  137  (Tarapaca)  ;  James, 
New  List  Chilian  B.  p.  n  (1892)  ;  Sharpe,  Hand-1.  Bds.  I,  p.  145 
(1899). 

Attagis  latreillii,  Less.  "Bull  de  Soc."  XXV.  p.  243  ;  id.  111.  Zool.  pi.  II 
(1830)  ;  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  520,  pi.  135  (1845)  ;  De  Murs,  Faun. 
Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  385  (1847);  Reichenb.  Gall.  tab.  CLXXXI.  figs. 
1555-56  (1850);  Bp.  C.  R.  XLIII.  p.  420  (1856);  Pelz.  Reis. 
Novara,  Vog.  p.  113  (1865:  Chili);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Exotic  Orn.  p. 


240  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

158  (1869)  ;   Gray  Hand-1.  B.  III.  p.  20,  no.  10,053(1871)  ;  Scl.  & 
Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1879,  p.  641  (Bolivia). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 
Size. — Total  length,  about  11.5  inches. 
Wing,  7.3  inches. 
Oilmen,  0.85  inch. 
Tail,  2.75  inches. 
Tarsus,  i.i  inches. 

Color. — General  color  above,  deep  umber,  each  feather  vermiculated 
with  grey,  silvery  in  character,  and  cinnamon  and  rusty.  The  vermicu- 
lations  follow  the  outline  of  each  feather  and  are  transverse  at  the  ends 

of  the  feathers  and    marginal  on   the 
FIG.  137.  sides  of  the  vanes.      Below,  the  pre- 

vailing color  is  warm  cinnamon  ;  each 
feather  fringed  with  silvery  grey  and 
marked  with  two  or  more  umber  bands 
following  the  outline  of  the  feather. 

Head. — Forehead,  occiput  and  crown 
deep  umber,  each  feather  fringed  with 
silvery  grey  and  marked  with  cinnamon 

Attagis  gayi.     Head.   '  Natural    size.     P.      in    lines     following     the     shape    of    the 

U.  O.  C.  7918.  Adult  male.  feather.  The  lores  and  the  region  back 

of  each  eye  lighter,  defining  the  crown  ; 
the  auriculars  dusky,  with  cinnamon  and  grey  hues. 

Neck:  Above  as  in  the  general  description.  Below,  on  the  lower 
neck,  the  cinnamon  is  much  concealed  by  the  defined  subterminal  bars  of 
umber  on  each  feather.  The  throat  much  paler  cinnamon  or  dull  cream, 
each  feather  spotted  with  deep  umber. 

Back :    As  described  in  general  color  and  pattern. 

Tail :  Feathers  dusky  in  ground  color,  with  decorations  similar  to 
those  on  the  feathers  of  the  back. 

Wings :  Upper  coverts  and  scapulars  like  the  back  in  color  and  pat- 
tern. Bastard  wing  and  primary  coverts  blackish,  with  sandy  rufous  mar- 
gins. Quills  light  brownish,  blackish  on  the  outer  web  and  at  the  tips  of 
the  primaries,  which  are  fringed  with  white. 


AVES THINOCORYTHID/E. 


241 


Under  parts :  Warm  cinnamon  as  described  in  marking  and  pattern. 
Bill  dull  horn  color  (dry  skin).  Tarsi  and  feet  dull  brown.  P.  U.  O.  C. 
7918  cT,  Arroyo  Gio,  Patagonia,  27  May,  1898.  The  sexes  are  alike  in 
color  and  size. 

Young  birds  are  more  uniform  in  color  above,  owing  to  the  extreme 
fineness  of  the  vermiculation,  and  of  a  general  sandy  cinnamon  in  tone. 
Below  the  barring  is  not  so  defined,  the  cinnamon  color  pre- 
ponderating.    Feet  and  bill  pale  brown.      P.  U.  O.  C.  7919, 
Patagonia.      No  sex.     Moulting  from  down  to  first  plumage.  |  a 

• 
Geographical  Range.  —  Northern  Patagonia,  as  far  south  as 

the  region  south  of  Lake  Buenos  Aires  and  the  Santa  Cruz 
River.     Chili  and  Peru. 


A  ttag  is 

The  Princeton  University  Expeditions  to  Patagonia  found  gayi.  Foot, 
this  grouse-like  plover  in  the  foothills  of  the  Cordilleras  and  about  one  half 
on  the  pampas  in  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Buenos  Aires.  Mr. 
Hatcher  writing  of  it  says  :  "  Found  over  the  pampas  and  in 
the  valleys,  more  especially  where  there  is  a  warm  sandy  soil  female, 
with  considerable  bush.  Not  common,  especially  south  of 
the  Santa  Cruz  River  where  it  was  only  seen  at  two  localities."  (J.  B. 
Hatcher  in  manuscript  field-notes.)  Unfortunately  a  half  grown  young 
bird  is  without  a  label  and  there  are  no  notes  as  to  its  time  of  capture. 
The  birds  are  known  in  the  high  Andes  (see  De  Murs,  Faun.  Chil.  Zool. 
I.  p.  384,  1847)  where  they  have  been  found  breeding. 

Darwin  says  :  "A  specimen  was  given  me  which  was  shot  on  the  lofty 
Cordillera  of  Coquimbo,  only  a  little  below  the  snow-line.  At  a  similar 
height,  on  the  Andes,  behind  Copiapo,  which  appear  so  absolutely  desti- 
tute of  vegetation,  that  any  one  would  have  thought  that  no  living 
creature  could  have  found  subsistence  there,  I  saw  a  covey.  Five  birds 
rose  together,  and  uttered  noisy  cries  ;  they  flew  like  grouse,  and  were 
very  wild.  I  was  told  that  this  species  never  descends  to  the  lower 
Cordillera.  These  two  species  in  their  respective  countries,  occupy  the 
place  of  the  ptarmigan  of  the  Northern  Hemisphere."  (Darwin,  Voyage 
of  the  "Beagle,"  Birds,  page  117,  1841.) 


natural  size. 
P.  U.  O.  C. 
7917.  Adult 


242 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY. 


P.  U.  O.  C. 

Sex 

Locality 

Date 

Collector 

7918 
7917 
7919 

C?ad. 
9  ad. 
Juvenis. 

Arroyo  Gio,  Patagonia. 

«         «            n 

Patagonia. 

27  May,  1898, 
24  May,  1898, 

tt                  tt 

A.  E.  Colburn. 

H 

tt 

ATTAGIS  MALOUINUS  (Boddaert). 

Caille  des  isles  Malouines,  D'Aubent.  PI.  Enl.  II.  pi.  322. 

La  Caille  des  isles,  Buff.* Hist.  Nat.  Ois.  II.  p.  477  (1771). 

Malouine  Quail,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  II.  pt.  2,  p.  786  (1783 :  Falkland  Islands). 

Tetrao  malouinus,  Bodd.  Tabl.  PI.  Enl.  p.  13  (1783). 

Tetrao  falklandicus,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  762  (1788). 

Perdix  falklandica,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  II.  p.  653  (1790). 

Coturnix  falklandica,  Stephens  in  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  XI.  p.  386  (1819). 

Attagis  falklandica,  Darwin,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p.  117  (1841:  Moun- 
tains of  the  extreme  southern  parts  of  Tierra  del  Fuego)  ;  Des 
Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  385  (1847)  ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  Ibis, 
1868,  p.  1 88  (Peckett  Harbour,  March);  Cunningh.  Nat.  Hist.  Str. 
Magell.  p.  183  (1871)  ;  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  12  (Cockle  Cove, 
Feb.). 

Attagis  malouinus,  Gray,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  Part  III.  p.  51  (1844  :  Straits 
of  Magellan:  Hermit  Island);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1861,  p.  46  (Falkland 
Islands)  ;  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  154  (Mare  Harbour,  Falkland  Is., 
Oct.)  ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  144.  (1873)  ;  Oust.  Miss. 
Scient.  Cap.  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  107,  330  (1891)  ;  Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds. 
Brit.  Mus.  XXIV,  p.  716  (1896)  ;  id.  Hand-list  Bds.  I.  p.  145  (1899)  ; 
Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX,  p.  623  (1900  :  Punta  Arenas,  May: 
Santa  Cruz,  July :  Punta  Delgada,  July)  ;  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh. 
Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  16  (1900:  Straits  of  Magellan,  Tierra  del  Fuego, 
Falkland  Islands). 

Attagis  sp.  Vincig.  Patag.  p.  26  note  (1883:  Santa  Cruz)  ;  id.  Boll.  Soc. 
Geogr.  Ital.  (2)  IX.  p.  798  (1884). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size,  Adult. — Total  length,  about  10.05  inches. 
Wing,  6.7  inches. 
Culmen,  0.6  inch. 


AVES THINOCORYTHID^E.  243 

Tail,  2.3  inches. 

Tarsus,  0.8  inch. 

Color,  Adult. — General  color  above  dark  umber,  each  feather  margined 
with  warm  sandy  grey  and  many  of  the  feathers  with  one  or  more  inner 
rufous   bands   following  the  shape  of  the 
feather.     Below  white    except    the    breast  Fio.j39. 

and  throat,  which  are  sandy  buff  with  cir- 
cular black  or  deep  brown  markings. 

Head :  Forehead,  crown  and  occiput  deep 
umber  brown,  almost  black,  each  feather  bor- 
dered or  margined  with  sandy  rufous.  The 
crown  defined  by  a  lighter  isabelline  eye- 
brow stripe.  Lores  and  Sides  Of  face  isabel-  Attagis  malouimts.  Natural  size.  P. 
line,  narrowly  streaked  with  dusky.  Auricu-  u.  O.  C.  7989.  Adult, 

lar  region  more  rufous  and  similarly  streaked. 

Back :  Upper  back  as  described  in  general  color ;  the  lower  back  and 
rump  much  more  closely  vermiculated  with  sandy  edges  and  V-shaped 
rufous  decorations  to  each  feather.  Upper  tail  coverts  dusky,  particularly 
near  the  extremities,  and  fringed  and  decorated  with  sandy  buff  markings. 

Tail :  The  rectrices,  blackish,  tipped  with  dirty  white  and  irregularly 
barred  with  sandy  buff. 

Wing :  The  upper  coverts  deep  umber  or  blackish,  each  feather  mar- 
gined with  isabelline  and  decorated  with  horseshoe  or  V-shaped  rufus 
markings.  The  primaries  brown,  darkening  at  the  ends  and  with  narrow 
isabelline  tips.  Outer  secondaries  similar  to  the  primaries  and  the  inner 
secondaries  margined  with  isabelline  and  decorated  with  rufous  marking 
similar  to  those  of  the  greater  coverts. 

Lower  Parts :  The  throat  is  almost  white,  shading  into  bright  sandy  rufous 
on  the  lower  throat,  neck  and  breast,  each  feather  fringed  with  isabelline  and 
decorated  with  black  circular  markings.  This  coloration  ends  abruptly  on 
the  lower  breast,  the  rest  of  the  lower  surface  being  pure  white.  The  lower 
tail  coverts  are  isabelline  with  concealed  decorations  of  dusky  color. 

Bill  dusky  horn,  paling  on  lower  mandible  near  base. 

Feet  and  legs  dusky  (P.  U.  O.  C.  No.  7989,  Patagonia,  15  April,  1899). 

Geographical  Range.  —  The  Falkland  Islands,  Tierra  del  Fuego  and 
lands  about  the  Straits  of  Magellan.  North  in  southern  Patagonia  to  at 


244 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 


least  52°  south  latitude  on  the  coast,  and  on  the  foothills  of  the  southern 
Andes  up  to  4,000  feet  altitude,  north  to  at  least  40°  south  latitude. 


Mr.  Colburn  obtained  a  female  of  this  species  at  Arroyo  Gio  on  May  30, 
1898,  the  same  locality  where  he  collected  about  the  same  date  a  pair  of 
A.  gayi.  The  occurrence  of  the  two  kinds  of  Attagis  in  proximity  or 
together  does  not  seem  to  have  been  observed  before.  The  work  of  the 
naturalists  of  the  Princeton  University  Expeditions  to  Patagonia  throws 

FIG.  140. 


Attagis  malouinus. 
O.  C.  7989. 


Showing  the  pattern  of  the  feather  decoration.     All  natural  size.     P.  U. 


new  light  on  the  distribution  and  range  of  both  A.  gayi  and  A.  malouinus, 
the  southern  range  of  A.  gayi  being  extended  well  into  Patagonia  proper 
and  the  northern  range  of  A.  malouinus  bringing  that  species  at  least  into 
the  southern  boundary  of  A.  gayi.  Mr.  Hatcher  writes  in  his  manu- 
script field-notes  regarding  A.  gayi:  "Common  along  the  foothills  of  the 
southern  Andes  at  altitudes  of  from  2,000  to  4,000  feet,  where  it  occurs 
on  the  open  stretches  of  country,  especially  where  berries  are  abundant." 


AVES THINOCORYTHID^E. 


245 


The  birds  are  known  to  breed  in  November  and  December  in  the 
mountains  and  hills  about  Orange  Bay.  (Oustalet,  op.  cit.,  p.  107.) 
The  same  writer  also  speaks  of  four  individuals,  a  male  and  three  fe- 
males, taken  in  the  vicinity  of  Orange  Bay,  and  kept  alive  for  three  days. 
The  iris  was  dark  brown,  beak  blackish  brown,  and  the  legs  and  feet 
greyish.  Another  specimen  differed  in  having  the  feet  and  legs  grey, 
tinged  with  yellow. 

Darwin's  account  of  A.  malouinus  under  the  name  of  A .  falklandica  is 
of  special  interest.  He  writes,  "The  bird  is  not  uncommon  on  the  moun- 
tains in  the  extreme  southern  parts  of  the  Tierra  del  Fuego.  It  frequents, 
either  in  pairs  or  small  coveys,  the  zone  of  alpine  plants  above  the  region 
of  forest.  It  is  not  very  wild,  and  lies  very  close  on  the  bare  ground." 
(Darwin,  Voyage  of  the  Beagle,  Birds,  page  118,  1841.) 

There  are,  in  the  British  Museum,  five  males  and  two  females  all  fully 
adult  birds,  collected  in  the  Valle  del  Lago  Blanco,  Chubut,  by  J.  Kos- 
lowsky  during  the  months  of  September  and  June,  1899—1901.  This 
(Lat.  46  S. :  Long.  71  W.)  appears  to  be  the  most  northern  record  of  the 
species. 


P.  U.  0.  C. 

Sex 

Locality 

Date 

Collector 

7920 

$ 

Arroyo  Gio, 

30  May,  1898. 

A.  E.  Colburn. 

Patagonia. 

7987 

Unknown. 

Killik  Aike, 

1  5  April,  1  899. 

O.  A.  Peterson. 

Patagonia. 

7988 

Unknown. 

Killik  Aike, 

15  April,  1899. 

O.  A.  Peterson. 

Patagonia. 

7989 

Unknown. 

Killik  Aike, 

15  April,  1899. 

O.  A.  Peterson. 

Patagonia. 

Genus  THINOCORYS  (Eschscholtz). 


Type. 


Thinocorus,    Eschscholtz,    Zool.    Atlas,    p.    2  (1829)  ; 

Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  717  (1896)  T.  rumicivorus. 

Thinocorys,  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  146  (1899)    .  T.  rumicivorus. 

Ocypetes,  Wagler,  Isis,  1829,  p.  762 T.  rumicivorus. 


Geographical  Range.  —  Peculiar  to  South  America.     Chili,  Peru,  the 
Argentine  Republic  and  Patagonia. 


246  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS!     ZOOLOGY. 

THINOCORYS  ORBIGNIANUS  (Isid.  Geoffr.  St.  Hilaire  &  Lesson). 

Tinochorus  orbignyanus,  Geoffr.  &  Less.  Cent.  Zool.  p.  137,  pis.  48,  49 
(1830);  Fraser,  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  p.  115  (Chili);  Des  Murs  in  Gay's 
Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  387  (1847). 

Thinochonis  ingce,  Tschudi,  Arch,  fur  Nat.  1843,  p.  387  (Peru);  Pelz. 
Reis.  Novara,  Vog.  p.  113  (1865:  Chili);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867,  p.  330 
(Chile). 

Jhinochorus  orbignyanus,  Gray,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  Part  III.  p.  51  (1844: 
Chili) ;  Burm.  Reis.  La  Plata,  II.  p.  500  (1861)  ;  Hartl.  Naum.  1853, 
p.  221  (Chili);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  144  (1873); 
Tacz.  Orn.  Perou,  III.  p.  281  (1886);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1886,  p.  403 
(Tarapaca);  Philippi,  Ornis,  IV.  p.  159  (1888);  Scl.  &  Huds. 
Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  178  (1889);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1891,  p.  137  (Tara- 
paca); James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  n  (1892);  Lane,  Ibis,  1897, 
p.  306  (Sacaya,  Cancosa,  &  Lake  Huasco) ;  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb. 
Suppl.  IV.  p.  662  (1898:  Punta  Arenas,  Feb.);  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus. 
Genov.  (2)  XX.  p.  623  (1900:  Penguin  Rookery,  Feb.);  Martens 
Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  16  (1900:  Patagonia). 

Thinocorus  sp.,  Vincig.  Patag.,  p.  59  (1883);  id.  Boll.  Soc.  Geogr.  Ital. 
(2)  IX.  p.  798  (1884). 

Attagis  falklandica,  Vincig.  (nee  Gm.)  Exped.  Austr.  Arg.  p.  58  (1883: 
Isola  degli  Stati). 

Thinocorus  orbignianus,  Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  718  (1896). 

Thinocorys  orbignianus,  Sharpe,  Hand-list  Bds.  I.  p.  146  (1899). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size,  Adult  Male.  —  Total  length,  about  9  inches. 

Wing,  6  inches. 

Culmen,  0.55  inch. 

Tail,  2.5  inches. 

Tarsus,  0.95  inch. 

The  female  is  a  little  smaller  than  the  male. 

Color,  Adult  Male.  —  General  color,  head,  back  and  wings  deep  umber 
brown,  each  feather  margined  with  sandy  buff  and  decorated  with  rufous. 
An  interval  on  the  nape  and  neck  blue  grey.  Below  throat,  lower 
breast  and  abdomen  white,  the  chest  and  neck  blue  grey,  with  narrow 
line  of  black  crossing  the  chest. 


AVES THINOCORYTHID^. 


247 


FIG.   141. 


Head  :  Crown  deep  umber  brown,  each  feather  broadly  margined  with 
sandy  rufous.  A  broad  frontal  band  of  grey. 
The  feathers  above  the  eyes  and  auricular  re- 
gions have  narrow  dark  shaft-streaks  with 
sandy  buff  margins.  The  blue  grey  of  the 
throat  reaches  up  to  the  lower  part  of  the  face 
and  cheeks. 

Neck :    Blue  grey,  above  and  below,  except 
on  the  chin  which  is  white  in  a  denned  area 

,    ..  ,       ,  .  .  ,.       ^,          ,  .  ,.  Thmocorys  orbigmanus.     Nat- 

separated  from  the  blue  of  the  throat  by  a  line  ural  sjze     P    u   O   C   7779 
of  black  and  reaching  up  to  the  lower  part  of  Adult  female. 
the  cheeks. 

Back :    As  described,  in  general  color ;    the  upper  tail   coverts  more 
sandy  rufous  in  appearance. 

Tail :    Rectrices  deep  umber  brown,  with  sandy  white  tips  and  a  few 
decorations  of  sandy  rufous  in  bars  and  blotches. 

Wings :  Much  like  the  back  in  general ;  the  upper  wing 
coverts  more  broadly  margined  with  sandy  buff,  and  profusely 
decorated  with  rufous.  Bastard  wing,  primary  coverts  and 
quills  deep  grey  brown  with  narrow  greyish  margins  to  the 
outer  webs  extending  around  the  extremity  of  each  feather 
for  a  short  distance  on  the  inner  web.  This  becomes  more 
apparent  on  the  inner  secondaries  which  have  concealed  white 
bases,  denned  by  a  narrow  blackish  line. 

Lower  parts :  The  chin  white,  the  throat  and  neck  blue  grey, 
extending  down  on  the  chest,  across  which  is  a  narrow  inter- 
Leg  and  foot,  rupted  line  of  blackish.  The  sides  of  the  upper  breast  are 
one  half  natu-  sandy  buff,  mottled  with  deep  umber  brown.  An  area  of 
rai  size.  P.  u.  (jarjc  krown  feathers  on  the  flanks.  The  under  wing  coverts 
Adult  female!  deep  °lackish  brown,  tipped  with  whitish,  and  the  axillaries 
blackish.  The  remainder  of  the  under  surface,  under  chest, 
breast  and  abdomen  white,  shaded  with  cream  color  on  the  breast  and 
under  tail  coverts. 

"Iris  brown"  ;  "bill  horn  color"  ;  "feet  yellow."     (Sclater  in  P.  Z.  S., 
1886,  p.  403.) 

The  adult  female  differs   from  the  male  in  color.     Crown,  nape  and 
upper  hind  neck  are  like  the  back.     White  prevails  on  the  sides  of  the 


Thinocorys 


248  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

face,  the  cheeks  and  lower  throat,  all  of  which  are  streaked  with  brown- 
ish black.  The  chin  and  upper  throat  are  white,  and  the  fore  neck  is 
ashy  grey  with  a  bluish  shade,  the  feathers  being  fringed  with  dusky. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Chili,  Bolivia  and  Peru,  extending  southward 
into  Patagonia  in  the  Cordillera  to  the  upper  waters  of  the  Rio  Chico  de 
Santa  Cruz,  latitude  49°  south,  longitude  72°  west. 

The  naturalists  of  the  Princeton  University  Expeditions  to  Patagonia 
met  this  species  of  quail-like  plover  at  the  head  waters  of  the  Rio  Chico 
de  Santa  Cruz,  where  a  single  bird  was  secured  on  20  February,  1897 
P.  U.  O.  C.  9  adult  7779.  This  extends  materially  the  known  habitat  of 
T.  oribignianus,  bringing  it  well  into  the  Patagonian  territory.  It  will 
doubtless  be  found  common  at  points  in  northern  Patagonia  and  in 
southern  Patagonia  at  least  as  far  south  as  indicated.  Mr.  Hatcher  in 
speaking  of  it  in  his  manuscript  field-notes  says:  "Occurring  in  coveys 
of  from  10-20  on  the  high  pampas  near  the  coast.  Of  similar  habits  and 
distribution  to  the  former."  ("Former"  here  refers  to  Attagis gayi. ) 

Two  examples  of  this  species  have  been  collected  by  J.  Koslowsky,  in 
the  Valle  del  Lago  Blanco,  Chubut  district,  in  November  and  December, 
1901.  This  appears  to  be  the  first  record  of  the  bird  in  this  locality. 
They  are  both  males  and  are  fully  adult. 


P.  U.  0.  C. 

Sex 

Locality 

Date 

Collector 

7779 

9,  adult. 

Rio  Chico  de  Santa  Cruz, 
near  Lake  Argentina, 
Patagonia. 

20  February,  1  897. 

J.  B.  Hatcher. 

THINOCORYS  RUMICIVORUS  (Eschscholtz). 

Thinocorus  rumicivorus,  Eschscholtz,  Zool.  Atlas,  p.  2.  pi.  2  (1829: 
Chili);  Darwin,  Voy.  "Beagle,"  Birds,  p.  117  (1841  :  Santa  Cruz, 
Patagonia:  Chili) ;  Burm.  La  Plata  Reis.  II.  p.  501  (1861  :  Rosario) ; 
Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867,  p.  331  (Chili);  id.  &  Salv.  Ibis,  1868,  p.  188 
(Peckett  Harbour)  ;  iid.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  143  (Conchitas) ;  iid.  Ibis, 
1869,  p.  284  (Gregory  Bay,  Dec.);  1870,  p.  499  (Sandy  Point, 
March);  Cunningh.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.  p.  183  (1871);  Scl.  & 
Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  144  (1873);  Durnf.  Ibis,  1876,  p.  164 
(Buenos  Aires,  May  to  Sept.) ;  id.  Ibis,  1877,  P-  42  (Chupat  Valley, 


AVES THINOCORYTHID^;.  249 

Nov.)  p.  197  (Buenos  Aires,  winter  visitor,  Baradero,  April) ;  id.  Ibis, 
1878,  p.  403  (Central  Patagonia  resident,  breeds  in  Oct.  and  also 
observed  chicks  in  March) ;  Doering,  Expl.  al  Rio  Negro,  Zool.  p.  56 
(1882) ;  Salvin,  P.  Z.  S.  1883,  p.  429  (Coquimbo) ;  Tacz.  Orn.  Perou, 
III.  p.  283  (1886) ;  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  176  (1889) ;  Burm. 
An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part  X.  p.  246  (1888),  part  XI.  p. 
319  (1890:  Northern  and  Central  Patagonia);  Oust.  Miss.  Scient. 
Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  108,  330  (1891);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1891,  p.  137 
(Tarapaca);  Holland,  Ibis,  1891,  pp.  16,  19;  id.  Ibis,  1892,  p.  211 
(Estancia  Espartilla,  March  to  June,  fairly  common) ;  James,  New  List 
Chil.  B.  p.  n  (1892);  Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  719 
(1896);  Lane,  Ibis,  1897,  P-  3°4  (Tarapaca);  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb. 
Suppl.  IV.  p.  662  (1898  :  Cabo  Espiritu  Santo,  E.  Tierra  del  Fuego, 
Feb.:  El  Paramo  Bahia,  San  Bastrana,  E.  Tierra  del  Fuego,  Feb.); 
Salvad,  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX,  p.  624  (1900:  Punta  Arenas, 
May) ;  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  16  (1900) ;  Nicoll. 
Ibis.,  1904,  p.  43  (Punta  Arenas). 

Tinochorus  swainsonii,  Less.  111.  Zool.  pi.  16  (1830) ;  Des  Murs  in  Gay's 
Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  388  (1847). 

Tinochorus  eschscholtzii,  Geoffr.  &  Less.  Cent.  Zool.  p.  140,  pi.  50  (1830) ; 
Fraser,  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  p.  116  (Chili,  in  flocks  in  winter). 

Thinocorus  swainsoni,  Gray,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  Part  III.  p.  51  (1844: 
Chile);  Pelz.  Reis.  Novara,  Vog.  p.  113  (1865). 

Thinocorys  rumicivorus,  Sharpe,  Hand  List  Bds.  I.  p.  146  (1899). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size,  Adiilt  Male. —  P.  U.  O.  C.  7781.     Total  length,  about  6.5  inches. 

Wing,  4.8  inches. 

Oilmen,  0.45  inch. 

Tail,  1.9  inches. 

Tarsus,  0.65  inch. 

The  female  is  appreciably  smaller  than  the  male. 

Color,  Adult  Male,  P.  U.  O.  C.  7781.  —  In  general  appearance  very 
similar  to  T.  orbignianus,  but  readily  distinguished  by  its  much  smaller 
size  and  by  the  markings  on  the  neck,  throat  and  upper  breast. 

Head  :  Forehead  and  back  to  the  eyes  slate  color.    Crown  and  occiput 


250  PATAGONIAN  EXPEDITIONS:  ZOOLOGY. 

dull  deep  brown,  each  feather  margined  with  sandy  buff.  Sides  of  head 
and  face  slate,  the  ear  coverts  tinged  with  sandy. 

Neck  :  Chiefly  like  crown  above,  but  interrupted 
FiG.j43.  by  a  slaty  collar,  just  behind  the  occiput.     Sides 

of  neck  slaty,  paler  than  on  the  face  and  fore- 
head. Throat  white,  separated  from  the  slaty  of 
the  face  and  neck  by  a  black  line  one-fourth  of  an 
inch  in  width,  which  starts  at  the  base  of  the 
fm  lower  mandible.  These  lines  on  either  side  of 

~, .  the  white  throat  widen  and  join  into  a  broad  me- 

Inmocorys  rumictvorus.         .  .  J 

Natural  size.  P.  u.  O.  C.  sia*  band,  which,  passing  down  the  neck,  widens 
7781.  Adult  male.  in  its  turn  so  as  to  form  a  black  dividing  line  be- 

tween the  white  of  the  breast  and  the  slaty  gray 
of  the  sides  of  the  neck. 

Back  :  Dull  deep  umber,  each  feather  margined  with  sandy  rufous,  and 
decorated  with  rufous  markings.  This  is  particularly  noticeable  on  the 
greater  coverts  of  the  wing.  Rump  like  the  back,  and  upper  tail  coverts 
similar  in  color  and  marking. 

Tail :  Rectrices  brownish  black,  tipped  and  margined  with  sandy 
white,  which  becomes  pure  white  on  the  two  outer  feathers,  where  the 
white  areas  preponderate. 

Wing:  Upper  coverts  like  the  back.  Bastard  wing,  primary  coverts 
and  quills  grayish  black,  with  white  or  isabelline  etching  and  tips,  most 
conspicuous  on  the  primary  coverts  and  secondary  quills. 

Lower  parts  :  Neck  and  chest  as  described.  The  sides  of  the  breast 
shaded  with  sandy  rufous  feathers,  which  have  obscure  brown  markings. 
Rest  of  under  parts  white,  except  some  of  the  under  tail  coverts,  which  are 
isabelline,  with  some  brown  markings.  Axillaries  blackish.  Under  wing 
coverts  blackish,  with  white  fringing. 

Bill  and  feet  much  as  in  T.  orbignianus.  The  female  differs  from  the 
male  in  having  the  foreneck  brown,  no  collar  interrupting  the  brown  of  the 
upper  neck.  The  white  throat  is  separated  from  the  brown  of  the  fore- 
neck  by  a  line  of  black,  which  extends  upward  to  the  fore  part  of  the 
cheeks,  and  down  in  disconnected  spots  to  the  chest,  forming  an  obscure 
line  across  that  region.  This  black  marking  is  much  as  in  the  male,  but 
obscure  and  indefinite  and  not  nearly  as  pronounced. 

Immature  males  (P.  U.  O.  C.,  Nos.  7780  and  7916)  resemble  adult 


AVES THINOCORYTHID^E.  251 

female  birds,  but  there  is  no  slate  color  on  the  fore  part  of  crown  and 
forehead,  the  vermiculations  are  darker  colored ;  the  black  markings  on 
the  throat  are  much  less  defined  in  the  younger  of  the  two,  No.  7916. 
The  feet  and  bill  are  much  like  those  of  the  adult  in  color. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Patagonia  and  the  Argentine  Republic,  Chili, 
Bolivia  and  Peru. 


The  naturalists  of  the  Princeton  University  Expeditions  to  Patagonia  met 
this  sparrow-like  Plover  frequently,  and  Mr.  Hatcher's  observations  in 
manuscript  field-notes  say:  "Common  on  the  high  pampas  near  the 
coast,  where  they  occur  in  small  flocks.  When  startled  from  a  distance 
they  first  nestle  very  close  to  the  ground,  and  if  approached  more  closely 
they  fly  very  rapidly  for  a  short  distance,  then  settle  on  the  ground  and 
conceal  themselves  in  the  short  grass.  The  color  of  the  feathers  of  the 
back  and  wings  of  all  the  species  of  this  group  of  birds  (Attagides]  in 
Patagonia  is  splendidly  adapted  for  their  preservation.  So  well  do  these 
colors  harmonize  with  that  of  the  brown  grass  and  shingle  of  the  Pata- 
gonian  plains  that  these  birds  are  extremely  difficult  to  see  when  nestled 
closely  to  the  ground,  as  is  their  custom  when  any  danger  is  discovered." 

Darwin  noticed  these  birds  with  great  interest,  and  a  summary  of  his 
record  is  appended  as  giving  additional  points  in  their  biography : 

"A  very  singular  little  bird,  Tinochorus  rumici'vorus,  is  here  common; 
in  its  habits  and  general  appearance,  it  nearly  partakes  of  the  characters, 
different  as  they  are,  of  the  quail  and  snipe.  The  Tinochorus  is  found  in 
the  whole  of  southern  South  America,  wherever  there  are  sterile  plains,  or 
open  dry  pasture  land.  It  frequents  in  pairs  or  small  flocks  the  most 
desolate  places,  where  scarcely  another  living  creature  can  exist.  Upon 
being  approached  they  squat  close,  and  then  are  very  difficult  to  be  dis- 
tinguished from  the  ground.  When  feeding  they  walk  rather  slowly,  with 
their  legs  wide  apart.  They  dust  themselves  in  roads  and  sandy  places, 
and  frequent  particular  spots,  where  they  may  be  found  day  after  day ;  like 
partridges,  they  take  wing  in  a  flock.  In  all  these  respects,  in  the  mus- 
cular gizzard  adapted  for  vegetable  food,  in  the  arched  beak  and  fleshy 
nostrils,  short  legs  and  form  of  foot,  the  Tinochorus  has  a  close  affinity 
with  quails.  But  as  soon  as  the  bird  is  seen  flying  its  whole  appearance 


252  PATAGONIAN  EXPEDITIONS:  ZOOLOGY. 

changes;  the  long  pointed  wings,  so  different  from  those  in  the  gallina- 
ceous order,  the  irregular  manner  of  flight,  and  plaintive  cry  uttered  at 
the  moment  of  rising,  recall  the  idea  of  a  snipe.  The  sportsmen  of  the 
"Beagle"  unanimously  called  it  the  short-billed  snipe.  To  this  genus, 
or  rather  to  the  family  of  Waders,  its  skeleton  shows  that  it  is  really 
related. 

"The  Tinochorus  is  closely  related  to  some  other  South  American 
birds.  Two  species  of  the  genus  Attagis  are  in  almost  every  respect 
ptarmigans  in  their  habits;  one  lives  in  Tierra  del  Fuego,  above  the 
limits  of  the  forest  land ;  and  the  other  just  beneath  the  snow-line  on  the 
Cordillera  of  Central  Chile."  (Darwin,  Voyage  of  the  "Beagle,"  p.  94. 
Edition  1888,  D.  Appleton  &  Co.,  New  York.) 

"In  the  course  of  the  day  two  curious  little  birds  new  to  us  were  shot 
— the  Thinocorus  rumicivorus  and  Attagis  Falklandica  —  the  true  posi- 
tion of  which,  in  a  strictly  natural  classification  of  birds,  appears  to  be 
somewhat  doubtful.  Of  the  former  bird  Mr.  Darwin  has  remarked,  that 
1  it  nearly  equally  partakes  of  the  characters,  different  as  they  are,  of  the 
quail  and  of  the  snipe';  and  that  it  'is  found  in  the  whole  of  southern 
South  America,  wherever  there  are  sterile  plains,  or  upon  open,  dry  pas- 
ture land,'  adding,  that  he  saw  it  as  far  south  as  the  inland  plains  of 
Patagonia,  at  Santa  Cruz,  in  latitude  50°.  In  the  Strait  of  Magellan  it 
appears  to  be  not  uncommon,  as  we  frequently  saw  small  flocks  on  subse- 
quent occasions.  Its  habits,  in  so  far  as  I  had  an  opportunity  of  observ- 
ing them,  greatly  resembled  those  of  a  small  plover;  and  I  have  several 
times  mistaken  it  for  one  of  these  birds.  The  latter  bird,  Attagis,  which 
considerably  exceeds  the  former  in  size,  was  seen  by  Mr.  Darwin,  '  on  the 
mountains  in  the  extreme  southern  parts  of  Tierra  del  Fuego,'  where  'it 
frequents,  either  in  pairs  or  coveys,  the  zone  of  alpine  plants  above  the 
region  of  the  forest,'  but  was  never  observed  by  us  except  on  the  open 
low-lying  country  of  the  eastern  portion  of  the  Strait.  The  plumage  is 
prettily  mottled,  somewhat  like  that  of  a  quail.  An  allied  species  of  the 
genus  (A.  Gayi]  occurs  on  the  mountains  of  Chili."  (Cunn.  Nat.  Hist. 
Str.  Magell.,  1871,  p.  183.)  This  was  at  Peckett  Harbor,  Straits  of  Ma- 
gellan. 

"Iris  dark  brown;  bill  yellowish;  tarsi  and  toes  yellow.  I  shot  this 
curious  little  bird  close  to  the  town  of  Punta  Arenas.  I  put  it  up  from  a 
rubbish-heap  of  tin  cans,  kettles,  etc.,  close  to  the  sea.  A  few  days  after- 


AVES CH  ARADRIID^E. 


253 


wards  I  saw  a  small  flock  further  along  the  shore.  They  were  very  wild. 
The  flight  of  this  species  resembles  that  of  a  Dunlin.  I  did  not  hear  it 
utter  any  cry."  (M.  J.  Nicoll,  Orn.  Jour.  Voy.  around  World,  Ibis,  Jan., 
1904,  p.  43.) 

This  bird  is  no  doubt  resident  and  very  plentiful  in  the  Chubut  Valley, 
as  J.  Koslowsky  has  procured  them  in  that  district  in  the  months  of  Feb- 
ruary, August,  September,  October  and  November.  The  specimens  sent 
by  him  are  seven  males  and  all  in  adult  plumage. 


Con. 

P.  U.  O.  C. 

Sez 

Locality 

Date 

Collector 

Skin. 

Skin. 
Skin. 

7780 

7781 
7916 

$  immature. 

$  adult. 
J1  juvenis. 

Near  Mt.  Tiger, 
Patagonia. 
Patagonia. 
Rio  Santa  Cruz, 
Patagonia. 

1  6  September,  1896. 

17  August,  1896. 
2  March,  1898. 

J.  B.  Hatcher. 

J.  B.  Hatcher. 
A.  E.  Colburn. 

Suborder   CHARADRIL 
Sharpe,  Classif.  Bds.  p.  73  (1891)  ;  id.,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  146  (1899). 

Family  CHARADRIID.E. 

Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.   p.  90  (1896)  ;  id.,  Hand-List  Bds. 
I.  p.  146  (1899). 

Subfamily  ARENARIINA1. 

Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  91  (1896)  ;  id.,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  146 

(1899). 


Genus  ARENARIA  Brisson. 


Type. 


Arenaria,  Brisson,  Orn.  V.  p.  132  (1760)  ;  Sharpe,  Cat. 
Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  91  (1896)  ;  id.,  Hand-List 
I.  p.  146  (1899)  .  ..  .  '. A.  interpres. 

Morinella,  Meyer  &  Wolf,  Taschenb.  Voy.  Deutschl.  II.  p. 

383  (1810) A.  interpres. 

Strepsilas,  Illiger,  Prodr.  p.  263  (1811) A.  interpres. 

Cinclus,  Gray,  List.  Gen.  Bds.  1841,  p.  85  (ex  Mcehring)  .     A.  interpres. 
Geographical  Range.  —  Cosmopolitan. 


254 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 


ARENARIA   INTERPRES  (Linnaeus). 
The  Turnstone  or  Sea-Dottrel,  Catesby,  Nat.  Hist.  Carol.  I.  p.  72,  pi.  72 

('73I)- 

The  Turnstone  from  Hudson's  Bay,  Edwards,  Nat.  Hist.  B.  III.  p.  141, 

pi.  141  (1750). 
Le  Coulon-chaud,  Briss.  Orn.  V.  p.  132  (1760);  Daubent.  PI.  Enl.  IX. 

pi.  856. 

Le  Coulon-chaud  cendre,  Briss.  Orn.  V.  p.  137  (1760). 
Tringa  interpres,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  248  ( 1 766) ;  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p. 

671  (1788);  Wilson,  Amer.  Orn.  VII.  p.  32,  pi.  57,  fig.   i   (1813); 

Chapm.  Trav.  S.  Afr.  II.  App.  p.  416  (1868);  Gatke,  Vogelw.  Hel- 
goland, p.  524  (1891). 
Tringa  morinella,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  249  (1766),  ex  Catesby;  Gm. 

Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  671  (1788). 

Coulon-chaud  de  Cayenne,  Daubent.  PI.  Enl.  IX.  pi.  340. 
Coulon-chaud  gris  de  Cayenne,  Daubent.  t.  c.  pi.  857. 
Tringa  hudsonica,  P.  L.  S.  Mull.  S.  N.,  Anhang,  p.    114  (1776);  Cass. 

Pr.  Phil.  Acad.  1864,  p.  246. 

Le  Tourne-Pierre,  Buff.  Hist.  Nat.  Ois.  VIII.  p.  130,  pi.  X.  (1781). 
Turnstone,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III.  pt.  I,  p.  188  (1785);  Yarn  Brit.  B.  II.  p. 

422  (1843). 

Morinella  collaris,  Meyer  &  Wolf,  Taschenb.  II.  p.  383,  note  (1810). 
Strepsilas  collaris,  Temm.   Man.  d'Orn.  p.  349  (1815);  id.  op.  cit.  1820, 

P-    553!   Werner,    Atlas,    Coureurs,    pi.    18    (1827);    Brehm,    Vog. 

Deutschl.  p.  558  (1831) ;  Gould,  B.  Eur.  IV.  pi.  318  (1837)  I  Crespon, 

Orn.  Gard.  p.  372  (1840) ;  Nordm.  in  Demid.  Voy.  Russ.  Merid.  III. 

p.    237    (1840);    Tschudi,    Faun,    Peruan.    p.    297   (1846);    Kjaerb, 

Danm.  Fugle,  pi.  XXXI.  fig.  i,  Suppl.  14,  fig.  3  (1852);  Schl.  Vog. 

Nederl.  pi.  218  (1854);  id.  Dier.   Nederl.  Vog.  pi.  22,  figs,  i,  2,  za 

(1861) ;  F.  &  P.  Godm.  Ibis,  1861,  p.  86  (Bodo,  breeding) ;   Severtz. 

Turkest.  Jevotn.  p.  69  (1873:  migrant). 
Arenaria  interpres,  Vieill.    N.    Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  XXIV.  p.  345  (1819); 

Roux,  Orn.  Provenc.   pis.   280,  281  (1825);  Stejn.  Auk,    I.   p.   229 

(1884) ;  id.  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  no.  29,  p.  102  (1885:  Bering  Isl.) ; 

A.  O.  U.  Check.  1.  Amer.  B.  p.  165  (1886);  Turner,  Contr.  N.  H. 

Alaska,  pp.   150,    190  (1886);  Cory,  Auk,  III.  p.  502  (1886:  Grand 


AVES CHARADRIID^E.  255 

Cayman);  Towns.  Auk,  IV.  p.  12  (1887:  Kowak  R.  N.  Alaska); 
Dwight,  t.  c.  p.  1 6  (Cape  Breton) ;  Nelson,  Nat.  Hist.  Alaska,  p.  128 
(1887:  S.  Mathew's  Isl. :  S.  Lawrence  Isl.,  breeding);  Ridgway 
Manual  N.  Amer.  B.  p.  180(1887);  Warren,  B.  Pennsylv.  p.  237 
(1888:  Lake  Erie  on  passage);  Smith  &  Palmer,  Auk,  V.  p.  147 
(1888:  R.  Columbia);  Sennett,  t.  c.  p.  no  (Texas,  July);  Stejn. 
Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  XII.  p.  381  (1889:  Kauai)  ;  Cory,  Auk,  VI. 
p.  31  (1889:  Cayman  Brae) ;  Dutcher,  t.  c.  p.  129  (Little  Gull  Island, 
N.  Y.) ;  Scott,  t.  c.  p.  159  (Gulf  Coast  of  Florida,  John's  Pass, 
June) ;  Cantwell,  t.  c.  p.  240  (Minnesota) ;  Reichen.  Syst.  Verz.  Vog. 
Deutschl.  p.  52  (1889) ;  Cory,  B.  W.  Ind.  p.  231  (1889) ;  Scott,  Auk, 
VII.  p.  309  (1890:  Dry  Tortugas,  March  and  April);  Eagle  Clarke, 
t.  c.  p.  221  (Ft.  Churchill,  Hudson's  Bay);  Allen,  Auk,  VIII.  p.  164 
(1891  :  Nova  Scotia,  summer  migrant) ;  Ridgw.  t.  c.  p.  337  (Watling 
Isl.,  Bahamas,  March) ;  Cory,  t.  c.  pp.  351,  352  (Inagua  Isl. :  Anguilla 
Isl.) ;  Scott,  Auk,  IX.  p.  15  (Jamaica) ;  Cory,  t.  c.  p.  48  (Maraguana) ; 
Scott,  t.  c.  p.  212  (Florida) ;  Mackay,  t.  c.  p.  306  (Nan tucket) ;  Rhoads, 
Auk,  X.  p.  17  (Washington  Territory);  Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus. 
XXIV.  p.  92  (1896) ;  id.,  Hand-1.  Bds.  I.  p.  146  (1899) ;  Bryan,  Auk, 
1903,  p.  210  (Mid-Pacific). 

Charadrius  cinclus,  Pall.  Zoogr.  Rosso- Asiat.  II.  p.  148  (1826:  Siberia, 
Kamtschatka). 

Tringa  oahuensis,  Bloxham  in  Byron's  Voy.  "Blonde,"  p.  251  (1826). 

Strepsilas  borealis,  Brehm,  Vog.  Deutschl.  p.  559  (1831). 

Strepsilas  littoralis,  Brehm,  t.  c.  p.  560  (1831). 

Cinclus  morinelhis,  Gray,  List.  Gen.  B.  p.  85  (1841). 

Cinclus  interpres,  Gray,  List.  Gen.  B.  p.  85  (1841)  ;  Riipp.  Syst.  Uebers. 
p.  118  (1845);  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  549  (1846);  id.  Cat.  B.  Trop. 
Isl.  Pacific  Ocean,  p.  48  (1859) ;  id.  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  363  (E.  Gilolo), 
id.  Hist.  Brit.  B.  p.  143  (1863);  Layard,  B.  S.  Afr.  p.  301  (1867); 
Gray,  Hand-1.  B.  III.  p.  22,  No.  10068  (1871);  Gurney  in  Anderss. 
B.  Dam.  Ld.  p.  276  (1872  :  Walfisch  Bay) ;  Heugl.  Orn.  N.  O.-Afr. 
III.  p.  1037,  IV.  p.  CLXXXIII.  (1873:  Egyptian  sea-coast,  Red 
Sea,  breeding?);  Hume,  Str.  F.  I.  p.  223  (1873:  Karachi,  Mekran 
Coast);  id.  op.  cit.  II.  p.  292  (1874:  Andamans :  Nicobars). 

Strepsilas  minor,  Brehm,  Vogelf.  p.  285  (1855). 

Strepsilas  collaris  vu/garis,  etc.,  etc.  (!),  A.  E.  Brehm,  Verz.  C.  L.  Brehm; 
p.  12  (1863;  teste  Dresser). 


256  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

Charadrius  interpres,  Seeb.  Hist.  Brit.  B.  III.  p.  12,  pi.  24,  figs,  i,  3  (1885). 

Morinella  interpres,  Stejn.  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  V.  p.  34  (1881). 

Arenaria   cinerea,  Olphe-Galliard,   Contr.  Faun.  Orn.  Eur.  Occid.  fasc. 
XII.  p.  47  (1889). 

Strepsilas  interpret,  Illiger,  Prodr.  p.  263  (1811);  Leach,  Syst.  Cat. 
Mamm.  &  B.  p.  29  (1816)  ;  Audub.  B.  Amer.  pi.  CCCIV. ;  Swains. 
&  Rich.  Faun.  Bor.-Amer.,  Birds,  p.  371  (1831:  Hudson's  Bay  to 
75°  N.  lat.,  breeds)  ;•  Jard.  ed  Wilson's  Amer.  Orn.  II.  p.  324,  pi. 
57,  fig.  i  (1832);  Naum.  Vog.  Deutschl.  VII.  Taf.  180  (1834); 
Audub.  Orn.  Biogr.  IV.  p.  31  (1838);  Keys.  &  Bias.  Wirb.  Eur.  pp. 
Ixxi,  209  (1840);  Gould  in  Darwin,  Voy.  "Beagle,"  II.  p.  132 
(1841);  Audub.  B.  Amer.  V.  p.  231,  pi.  323  (1842);  Selys-Longch. 
Faune  Beige,  p.  122  (1842);  Fraser,  P.  Z.  S,  1843,  p.  118  (Chili); 
Webb  &  Berth.  Orn.  Canar.  p.  34  (1841);  Hewits.  Eggs  Br.  B.  II. 
p.  263,  pi.  LXXI.  (1846) ;  Gosse,  B.  Jamaica,  p.  333  (1847)  >  Cab.  in 
Schomb.  Reis.  Guian.  III.  p.  751  (1848);  Peale,  U.  S.  Expl.  Exp., 
Birds,  p.  322  (1848);  Gould,  B.  Austral.  VII.  pi.  39  (.1848); 
Reichenb.  Vog.  Neuholl.  p.  206  (1849);  Thomps.  B.  Irel.  II.  p.  177 
(1850)  ;  Lembeye,  Av.  Cuba,  p.  100  (1850) ;  Harcourt,  P.  Z.  S.  1851, 
p.  146  (Madeira);  Midd.  Reis.  Sibir.,  Zool.  p.  213  (1851:  75°  N. 
lat.,  Taimyr  River:  Boganida  River,  May:  Schantar  Isl.,  Aug.); 
Reichenb.  Grail.  Taf.  104.  figs.  656,  660  (1852) ;  Hartl.  Arch.  Naturg. 
1852,  p.  121  ;  Strickl.  &Scl.  Contr.  Orn.  1852,  p.  159;  Bolle,  J.  f.  O. 
1855,  p.  176  (Canaries);  id.  t.  c.  1857,  p.  337  ;  Burm.  Th.  Bras.  III.  p. 
364  (1856:  Santa  Catarina) ;  Heugl.  Syst.  Uebers.  p.  57  (1856); 
Sundev.  Sv.  Fogl.  pi.  XXXVII.  fig.  6  (1856) ;  Hartl.  Orn.  W.-Afr.  p. 
217  (1857:  Gambia:  Casamance:  Gaboon:  Mozambique) ;  Cass.  in  B. 
N.  Amer.  p.  701  (1858) ;  id.  U.  S.  Expl.  Exped.  Birds,  p.  322  (1858) ; 
Gray,  P.  Z.  S.  1859,  P-  x^6  (New  Caledonia);  Jaub.  &  Barth.- 
Lapomm.  Rich.  Orn.  p.  452  (1859:  spring  and  autumn  migrant); 
Gray,  Cat.  Mamm.  &B.  New  Guinea,  p.  51  (1859) ;  Bryant,  Proc.  Bost. 
Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  VII.  p.  121  (1859:  Bahamas);  A.  &  E.  Newt.  Ibis, 
1859,  p.  256  (S.  Croix,  Sept.,  April);  Walker,  Ibis,  1860,  p.  166 
(Godhavn,  July) ;  Brewer,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  VII.  p.  309 
(1860:  Cuba);  Linderm.  Vog.  Griechenb.  p.  136  (1860:  spring  and 
autumn  migrant) ;  Powys,  Ibis,  1860,  p.  339  (Antivari,  Dec.,  Jan.) ; 
Swinh.  t  c.  p.  359  (Amoy) ;  id.,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  342  (Peking);  id.  t.  c. 


AVES CHARADRIID^E.  257 

1862,  p.  255  (Foochow,  Dec.);  id.  t.  c.  1863,  p.  414  (Formosa); 
Albrecht,  J.  f.  O.  1862,  p.  205  (Jamaica) ;  Swinh.  P.  Z.  S.  1863,  p.  315 
(Amoy);  A.  Newt,  in  Baring-Gould's  "Iceland,"  p.  411  (1863:  breed- 
ing) ;  Layard,  Ibis,  1863,  p.  250  (Cape  St.  Francis,  Dec.) ;  Blakist.  t. 
c.  p.  130  (York  Factory,  Aug.:  MacKenzie  R.) ;  E.  Newt.  t.  c.  p.  455 
(Madagascar);  Jerd.  B.  Ind.  III.  p.  656  (1863:  200  miles  inland  in 
Deccan)  ;  March,  Proc.  Philad.  Acad.  1864,  p.  66  (Jamaica:  breeding) ; 
Scl.  Ibis,  1864,  p.  301  (Anjouan  Isl.);  Wright,  t.  c.  p.  148  (Malta, 
May,  Aug.,  Dec.);  Kirk,  t.  c.  p.  332' (Lake  Nyasa) ;  Gurney,  t.  c.  p. 
355  (Natal);  Salvin,  t.  c.  p.  385  (Brit.  Honduras,  April);  Schl.  Mus. 
Pays-Bas,  Cursores,  p.  43  (1865)  ;  Gigl.  Ibis,  1865,  p.  59  (Pisa);  E. 
Newt.  t.  c.  p.  150  (Rodriguez,  Oct.)  ;  Salvin,  t.  c.  p.  191  (Guate- 
mala, Jan.) ;  Wright,  t.  c.  p.  466  (Malta,  May) ;  A.  Newt.  t.  c.  p.  505 
(Spitzbergen,  July);  Gould,  Handb.  B.  Austr.  II.  p.  269  (1865); 
Finsch,  New-Guinea,  p.  181  (1865)  ;  Pelz.  Reis.  Novara,  Vog.  p. 
117  (1865:  Stewart  Isl.,  Sept.);  Godm.  Ibis,  1866,  pp.  100,  107 
(Azores,  June)  ;  Salvin,  t.  c.  p.  190  (Guatemala,  both  coasts)  ;  Schl. 
P.  Z.  S.  1866,  p.  425  (Mayotte  :  Reunion)  ;  Degl.  &  Gerbe,  Orn. 
Eur.  II.  p.  154  (1867)  ;  Loche,  Expl.  Sci.  Alger.,  Ois.  II.  p.  28 
(1867:  migrant)  ;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867,  p.  339  (Chili)  ;  Hartl.  t.  c.  p. 
83  (Pelew  Isl.)  ;  Lawr.  Ann.  Lye.  N.  Y.  VIII.  p.  100  (1867:  Som- 
brero) ;  Baird,  Ibis,  1867,  p.  286;  Beavan,  t.  c.  p.  332  (Andamans) ; 
E.  Newt.  t.  c.  pp.  350,  359  (Seychelles,  Feb.)  ;  Hartl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867, 
p.  831  ;  Finsch  &  Hartl.  Faun.  Centralpolyn.  p.  197  (1867)  ;  Brown, 
Ibis,  1868,  p.  453  (Portugal)  ;  Dyb.  &  Parvex,  J.  f.  O.  1868,  p.  337 
(Dauria)  ;  Schl.  &  Poll.  Faune  Madag.  Ois.  p.  130  (1868);  Hartl. 
&  Finsch,  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  pp.  8,  118  (Pelew  Isl.)  ;  Borggr.  Vogelf. 
Norddeutschl.  p.  iii  (1869);  Doderl.  Avif.  Sicil.  p.  179  (1869:  on 
passage)  ;  Malmgr.  Ibis,  1869,  p.  230  (Amsterdam  Isl.,  Spitzbergen); 
Droste,  Vogelw.  Borkum,  p.  157  (1869);  Sundev.  CEfr.  K.  Vet.- 
Akad.  Forh.  Stockh.  1869,  p.  588  (S.  Bartholomew) ;  id.  t.  c.  p.  602 
(Porto  Rico) ;  Dall  &  Bann.  Trans.  Chicago  Acad.  I.  p.  290  (Yukon 
mouth);  Dole,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  N.  H.  XII.  p.  304  (1869:  Sandwich 
Isl.);  Godman,  Azores,  p.  33  (1870  :  probably  breeds) ;  Fritsch,  Vog. 
Eur.  tab.  34,  figs.  2,  8  (1870)  ;  Elwes  &  Buckley,  Ibis,  1870,  p.  330 
(Turkey)  ;  Swinh.  t.  c.  p.  361  (Hainan) ;  Marie,  Actes  Soc.  Linn.  Bor- 
deaux, XXVII.  p.  328  (1870)  ;  Finsch  &  Hartl.  Vog.  Ostafr.  p.  662 


258  PATAGONIAN  EXPEDITIONS  I  ZOOLOGY. 

(1870) ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1870,  p.  323  (Indefatigable  and  Bindloe 
Islands);  Gray,  B.  West  Scotl.  p.  266  (1871);  Salvad.  Faun.  Ital. 
Ucc.  p.  207  (1871) ;  Saunders,  Ibis,  1871,  p.  387  (S.  Spain) ;  Scl.  t.  c. 
p.  360  (Sandwich  Isl.);  Pelz.  Orn.  Bras.  p.  297  (1871  :  Piehy,  Feb.: 
Cajutuba,  Feb.:  Garape,  March  :  Para,  Nov.)  ;  Hartl.  &  Finsch,  P.  Z. 
S.  1872,  p.  89  (Mackenzie  Isl.) ;  id.  t.  c.  p.  104  (Uap.) ;  Harting,  Hanb. 
Brit.  B.  p.  45  (1872);  Heugl.  Ibis,  1872,  p.  62  (Novaya  Zemlya)  ; 
Godman,  t.  c.  p.  221  (Flores,  Azores);  Finsch,  Abhandl.  nat.  Ver. 
Bremen,  III.  p.  62  (1872  :  Alaska)  ;  Coues,  Key  N.  Amer.  B.  p.  246 
(1872) ;  Finsch,  J.  f.  O.  1872,  p.  52  (Samoa) ;  Holdsw.  P.  Z.  S.  1872, 
p.  472;  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  143  (1873);  Buller, 
B.  N.  Zeal.  p.  221  (1873);  Gould,  B.  Gt.  Brit.  IV.  pi.  60(1873); 
Tacz.  J.  f.  O.  1873,  p.  101  (Kultuk:  Darasun) ;  id.  t.  c.  1874,  p.  336; 
Alst.  &  Harvie-Brown,  Ibis,  1873,  p.  67  (Archangel);  Walden,  t.  c. 
p.  317  (S.  Andaman) ;  Brooke,  t.  c.  p.  338  (Sardinia) ;  Hayes  Lloyd,  t. 
c.  p.  416  (Kathiawar) ;  Elliot,  Rep.  Prybilov  Isl.  no.  406  (1873:  not 
breeding);  Tacz.  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  560  (Chorillos,  Peru);  Sundev, 
CEfr.  K.  Vet.-Akad.  Stockh.  1874,  p.  20  (Spitzbergen) ;  Coues,  B. 
N.-West,  p.  459  (1874);  Wright,  Ibis,  1874,  p.  238  (Gozo,  May); 
Durnf.  t.  c.  p.  404  (N.  Frisian  Isl.);  Lawr.  Mem.  Bost.  Soc.  N.  H. 
II.  p.  308  (1874:  Rio  Zacatula) ;  Saxby,  B.  Shetl.  p,  170  (1874: 
breeding);  Walden,  Tr.  Z.  S.  VIII.  p.  91  (1874:  Celebes);  Salvad. 
Ucc.  Born.  p.  320  (1874:  Sarawak);  Le  Messur.  Str.  F.  III.  p.  380 
(1875  :  Chinnee  Creek,  Sind) ;  Blyth,  B.  Burm.  p.  154  (1875  :  Arakan  ; 
Finsch,  Journ.  Mus.  Godeffr.  Heft  VIII.  p.  32  (1875);  Fallon,  Ois., 
Belg.  p.  155  (1875);  Irby,  Orn.  Gibr.  p.  163  (1875);  Dresser,  B. 
Eur.  VII.  p.  555,  pi.  532  (1875);  Danf.  &  Harvie-Brown,  Ibis,  1875, 
p.  420  (Stell  River);  Whitmee,  t.  c.  p.  446;  Gundl.  J.  f.  O.  1875,  p. 
331  (Cuba);  Layard,  P.  Z.  S.  1875,  p.  440  (Viti  Levu) ;  id.  P.  Z.  S. 
1876,  p.  503  (Friendly  Isl.) ;  id.  t.  c.  p.  505  (Fiji) ;  id.  Ibis,  1876,  p.  152 
(Koro  Isl.,  Fiji)  ;  id.  t.  c.  p.  393  (Viti  Levu) ;  Swinh.  t.  c.  p.  334  (Yezo) ; 
Dresser,  Ibis,  1876,  p.  328;  Blanf.  East  Persia,  II.  p.  281  (1876: 
Mekran  Coast);  Lawr.  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  no.  4,  p.  46  (1876: 
Tehauntepec,  Aug.);  Gundl.  Orn.  Cubana,  p.  179  (1876);  Hume. 
Str.  F.  IV.  p.  464  (1876:  Laccadives) ;  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov. 
VIII.  p.  384  (1876:  Bourou);  Salvin.  Tr.  Z.  S.  IX.  p.  502  (1876: 
Indefatigable  and  Bindloe  Isl.) ;  Tacz.  Bull.  Soc.  Zool.  France,  I.  p, 


AVES CHARADRIIDyE.  259 

247  (1876) ;  id.  t.  c.  II.  p.  156  (1877 :  Poland,  very  rare) ;  Feilden,  Ibis, 
1877:  p.  405  (Lat.  82°  30'  N.) ;  id.  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  pp.  29,  30,  31  (Lat. 
82°-83°,  Sept.  19:  Cape  Union,  82°  15');  Hartl.  Vog.  Madag.  p.  293 
(1877:  resident);  E.  Newt.  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  P-  3O1  (Anjouan) ;  Ram- 
say, t.  c.  p.  338  (N.  E.  Queensland) ;  Finsch,  t.  c.  p.  770  (Eua)  ;  id.  t.  c. 
p.  781  (Ponape)  ;  id.  t.  c.  p.  784  (Ninafou  Isl.) ;  David  &  Oust.  Ois. 
Chine,  p.  433  (1877);  Reid,  Zool.  1 877,  p.  475  (Bermudas,  Dec.) ;  Oust. 
Bull.  Soc.  Philom.  1878,  p.  183  (Seychelles);  Sharpe,  Phil.  Trans. 
Vol.  168,  Aves,  p.  4  (1878:  Rodriguez) ;  Lawr.  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus. 
I.  p.  67  (1878:  Dominica)  ;  id.  t.  c.  p.  197  (S.  Vincent);  Blakist.  & 
Pryer,  Ibis,  1878,  p.  219  (Japan);  E.  L.  &  L.  C.  Layard,  t.  c.  p.  280  (New 
Hebrides :  Santo) ;  E.  C.  Taylor,  t.  c.  p.  373  (Damietta) ;  E.  Adams, 
t.  c.  p.  437  (Michalaski) ;  Tweedd.  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  711  (N.  Bohol) ; 
Scl.  t.  c.  p.  557;  Forbes,  t.  c.  p.  127  (Raine  Isl.) ;  Maynard,  B.  East. 
N.  Amer.  p.  366  (1879);  Milne-Edwards  &  Grandid.  Hist.  Nat. 
Madag.,  Ois.  p.  512  (1879);  Legge,  B.  Ceylon,  p.  900  (1879); 
Hume,  Str.  F.  VIII.  p.  112  (1879);  Butler,  Cat.  B.  Sind,  etc.  p.  59 
(1879);  Seeb.  Ibis,  1879,  p.  26  (Yokohama);  Meyer,  t.  c.  p.  141 
(Menado,  March) ;  Sharpe,  t.  c.  p.  270  (Lumbidan) ;  Bogd.  B.  Cauc. 
p.  154  (1879);  Finsch,  P.  Z.  S.  1879,  pp.  9,  14  (Duke  of  York  Isl.); 
Sharpe,  t.  c.  p.  351  (Labuan,  Sept.);  Seeb.  Ibis,  1880,  p.  190 
(Siberia,  70^°  N.  lat);  Finsch,  t.  c.  pp.  220,  330,  332  (Jaliut  Isl., 
Aug.) ;  id.  t.  c.  p.  432  (Gilbert  Isl.) ;  Elliot,  Monogr.  Seal  Isl.  p.  129 
(1880);  Cory,  B.  Bahamas,  p.  151  (1880);  Finsch,  P.  Z.S.  1880,  p.  576 
(Ruk.  Isl.) ;  Butler,  Cat.  B.  S.  Bomb.  Pres.  p.  74  (1880:  cold  weather 
visitant) ;  Vidal,  Str.  F.  IX.  p.  82  (1880:  S.  Konkan,  April) ;  Sharpe, 
P.  Z.  S.  1 88 1,  p.  15  (Talcahuano) ;  Scl.  t.  c.  p.  451  (Rotumeh) ; 
Meyer,  Verh.  z.-b.  Ges.  Wien,  XXXI.  p.  767  (1881  :  Sumba) ;  Scl. 
Rep.  Voy.  "Challenger,"  II.  Birds,  p.  33  (1881  :  Admiralty  Isl.); 
W.  A.  Forbes,  t.  c.  p.  92  (Raine  Islet) ;  Bocage,  Orn.  Angola,  p. 
434  (1881 :  Loango) ;  A.  &  E.  Newt.  Handb.  Jamaica,  p.  115,  1881) ; 
Finsch,  Ibis,  1881,  pp.  105,  109  (Kushai) ;  id.  t  c.  p.  115  (Ponape, 
March) ;  id.  t.  c.  p.  246  (Nwalabo,  July) ;  Salvad.  Orn.  Papuasia,  II.  p. 
298  (1882) ;  Layard,  Ibis,  1882,  pp.  533,  544  (New  Caledonia) ;  Kel- 
ham,  Ibis,  1882,  p.  11  (Moar  River,  Malacca,  April:  Pulo  Nongsa, 
Sept.) ;  Seeb.  t.  c.  p.  380  (Archangel,  rare  summer  visitor) ;  H.  W. 
Elliot,  t.  c.  p.  478  (Prybilov  Isl.,  July) ;  E.  L.  &  L.  C.  Layard,  t.  c.  pp. 


260  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

533,  544  (Duck  Isl.,  N.  Caledonia) ;  Bean,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  III.  p. 
163  (1882);  Cocks,  Zool.  1882,  p.  24  (Is.  Fjord,  Spitzbergen,  Aug.); 
Elliot,  Rep.  Fur  Seal  Isl.  Alaska,  p.  129  (1882  :  not  breeding,  seen  at 
sea  800  miles  W.  of  Straits  of  Fuca);  Tacz.  Bull.  Soc.  Zool.  de  France, 
VIII.  p.  339  (1883:  Kamtschatka) ;  B.  O.  U.  List.  Br.  B.  p.  161 
1883);  Booth,  Rough  Notes,  Vol.  III.  (1883);  Saunders,  ed.  Yarr. 
Brit.  B.  III.  p.  289  (1883);  Seeb.  Ibis,  1883,  p.  29  (Shores  of  Black 
Sea) ;  Irby,  t.  c.  p.  187  (Santander,  May,  June,  Nov.) ;  Gates,  Handb. 
B.  Burm.  II.  p.  376  (1883:  Pegu,  Sept.);  Salvin,  P.  Z.  S.  1883,  p. 
429  (Paracas  Bay,  Oct.) ;  Bakist.  Amend.  List  B.  Japan,  p.  n  (1884: 
Japan  generally) ;  Bogd.  Consp.  Av.  Imp.  Ross.  p.  77  (1884) ;  Radde, 
Orn.  Cauc.  p.  421  (1884:  Lenkoran,  April,  May);  Murray,  Vertebr. 
Faun.  Suid,  p.  233  (1884:  Karchi) ;  Finsch,  Vog.  der  Sudsee,  p.  86 
(Marshall,  Gilbert  Isl.,  Carolines);  Chapm.  Ibis,  1884,  p.  99  (Spain, 
Sept.) ;  Tristr.  t.  c.  p.  168  (S.  Domingo) ;  Sharpe,  ed.  Layard's  B.  S. 
Afr.  p.  671  (1884);  Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgw.  Water-B.  N.  Amer.  I. 
p.  119  (1884);  Coues,  Key  N.  Amer.  B.  2nd  ed.  p.  609  (1884); 
Stejn.  Auk,  I.  p.  173  (1884) ;  Young,  t.  c.  p.  339  (at  sea,  Lat.  52°  N., 
Long.  25°  W.) ;  Merriam,  Auk,  II.  p.  63  (1885:  Point  Barrow,  June, 
Aug.);  Turner,  t.  c.  p.  157  (Nearer  Isl.,  Alaska,  summer);  Mur- 
doch, Rep.  Polar  Exp.  Pt.  Barrow,  p.  108  (1885:  breeding?);  Guil- 
lem.  P.  Z.  S.  1885,  p.  417  (Lebarran  Isl.  N.  Borneo);  Yerbury,  Ibis, 
1886,  p.  20  (Aden,  cold  weather) ;  Slater  &  Carter,  t.  c.  p.  49  (North 
Iceland,  breeding)  ;  Salvin,  t.  c.  p.  178  (Brit.  Guiana) ;  Gigl.  Avif.  Itab 
p.  377  (1886);  Pleske,  Uebers.  Saug.  u.  Vog.  Kola  Halbinsel,  p. 
329  (1886) ;  Tacz.  Orn.  Perou,  III.  p.  349  (1886) ;  Saunders,  P.  Z.  S. 
1886,  p.  336  (Diego  Garcia,  Oct.) ;  Tait,  Ibis,  1887,  p.  386  (Portugal, 
April,  Sept.  breeds);  Salvad.  Elench.  Ucc.  Ital.  p.  213  (1887);  Reid, 
Str.  F.  X.  p.  452  (1887:  Lucknow,  cold  weather);  Hume,  t.  c.  p. 
452,  note  (regular  migrant);  Gigl.  &  Salvad.  P.  Z.  S.  1887,  p. 
585  (Olga  Bay,  Corea,  Sept.) ;  Buller,  B.  New  Zeal.  2nd  ed.  II.  p. 
14  (1888);  Ramsay,  Tab.  List.  Austr.  B.  p.  20  (1888);  Sharpe,  Ibis, 
1888,  p.  203  (Palawan);  Seeb.  t.  c.  p.  348  (Gt.  Liakoff  Isl.,  June); 
id.  Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.  410  (1888);  Salvin,  Ibis,  1888,  p.  379 
(Cozumel  Isl.) ;  Feilden,  t.  c.  p.  492  (Barbados,  Aug.,  Sept.) ;  Pleske, 
Mem.  Acad.  Imp.  St.  Petersb.  (7)  XXXVI.  p.  50  (1888:  Tschinas, 
Sept.);  Everett,  Journ.  Straits  Branch  Asiat.  Soc.  1889,  p.  205;  id. 


AVES CHARADRIID/E.  2,6 1 

P.  Z.  S.  1889,  p.  225  (Palawan);  Milne-Edwards  &  Oust.  N.  Arch. 
Mus.  (2)  X.  p.  288  (1889:  Anjouan  Isl.) ;  Saunders,  Man.  p.  541 
1889);  Gigl.  Avif.  Ital.  pt.  i,  p.  579  (1889),  pt.  2,  p.  661  (1890),  pt. 
3,  p.  517  (1891) ;  Brusina,  Motr.  (Orn.  Croatica),  p.  88  (1890) ;  Seeb. 
B.  Japan.  Emp.  p.  331  (1890:  Kuriles,  probably  breeding :  S.  Japan, 
winter) ;  Whitehead,  Ibis,  1*890,  p.  59  (Palawan,  Sept.) :  Sharpe,  t.  c, 
pp.  143,  284  (Lawas  River,  April,  May);  Grant,  t.  c.  p.  442  (Ma- 
deira); Eagle  Clarke,  Zool.  1890,  p.  12  (Jan  Mayen) ;  Steere,  List 
B.  &  Mamm.  Philipp.  p.  26  (1890:  Mindanao,  Negros) ;  Koenig,  J. 
f.  O.  1891,  p.  313  (Canaries);  Buckley  &  Harvie-Brown,  Faun. 
Orkney  Isl.  p.  204  (1891:  breeding);  Sharpe,  Ibis,  1891,  p.  115 
(Fao,  June)  ;  Saunders,  t.  c.  p.  187  (Switzerland)  ;  Styan,  t.  c.  p. 
330  (Lower  Yangtze),  p.  504  (Shanghai,  May) ;  Erivaldsky,  Av.  Hung, 
p.  125  (1891)  ;  Sharpe,  Sci.  Res.  2nd  Yark.  Miss.  p.  139  (1891  : 
Nubra  Valley,  Oct.) ;  Macfarlane,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  XIV.  p.  430 
(1891)  ;  Salvad.  Agg.  Orn.  Papuasia,  pt.  III.  p.  198(1891);  Schalow. 
J.  f.  O.  1891,  p.  258;  Wigelsw.  Abhandl.  Mus.  Dresd.  no.  6,  p.  63 
(1891);  Sibree,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  115  (Madagascar);  Rendall,  t.  c.  p. 
229  (Gambia)  ;  De  La  Fouche,  t.  c.  p.  497  (Foochow :  Swatow, 
Sept.)  ;  Scott-Wilson  &  Evans,  Aves  Hawaiienses,  pt.  Ill  (1892)  ; 
Barnes,  Ibis,  1893,  p.  170  (Aden)  ;  Meade- Waldo,  t.  c.  p.  204  (Ca- 
naries) ;  Hartert,  t.  c.  p.  307  (Aruba)  ;  Styan,  t.  c.  p.  436  (Hainan)  ; 
Munn,  Ibis,  1894,  p.  72  (Calcutta  distr.)  ;  Pearson  &  Bidwell,  t.  c.  p. 
234  (Norway,  breeding). 

Arenaria  morinella,  W.  Palmer,  Fur  Seals  and  Fur  Seal  Isl.  N.  Pac.  Oc. 
Ill,  pp.  408-412.  (1899). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.  --Adult  male  (P.  U.  O.  C.  5596  <?,  12  May,  1881,  Cobbs  Island, 
Virginia.    W.  E.  D.  S.) 

Total  length,  about  8  inches. 

Wing,  6.2  inches. 

Culmen,  .95  inch. 

Tail,  2.3  inches. 

Tarsus,  i.o  inch. 

The  adult  female  averages  a  trifle  larger  in  size  than  the  male. 


262  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY. 

Color.  —  Adult  male  (breeding  plumage,  P.  U.  O.  C.  5596). 
General  color  above,  black  mottled  with  bright  chestnut ;  the  head  white 
striped  with  black.     Below  white,  with  a  large  area  of 
black  on  the  chest  and  sides  of  the  neck.  FlG-  ill- 

Head  :  Crown,  forehead  and  occiput  white ;  the 
crown  streaked  with  black.  The  base  of  the  forehead 
black,  extending  into  a  narrow  frontal  line  reaching  to 
the  eyes  on  either  side,  and  widening  below  and  be- 
hind into  a  crescent  which  runs  into  the  black  stripes 
of  the  malar  region,  and  by  them  is  connected  with  the 
black  regions  of  the  sides  of  the  throat,  the  chest  and  | 

breast.  Above  this  black  a  band  of  white  which  unites  Arcnaria  interpres  in 
with  a  broad  white  eyebrow  and  extends  backward  adult  plumage  about  to 
over  the  ear  coverts.  A  white  loral  patch,  separated  breed.  P.  U.  O.  C. 
from  the  white  throat  by  a  black  line.  S596-  One  half  natural 

size 

Neck:  Hind  neck  white,  with  some  black  mott- 
ling. Sides  of  neck  and  fore  neck  black  ;  throat  white. 

Back:  Mantle  black,  mixed  with  bright  chestnut  pr  bright  chestnut 
and  black  feathers.  Scapulars  chiefly  chestnut,  the  outer  areas  irregularly 
marked  and  terminated  with  black.  Accessory  scapular  plumes  white. 
The  entire  back  below  the  mantle  including  the  rump  white.  Upper 
tail  coverts  chiefly  black,  the  longer  ones  white. 

Tail :  Rectrices  black  with  white  bases,  and  tipped  with  white,  except 
that  in  very  old  birds  this  white  tip  is  not  present  on  the  central  pair. 
The  black  of  the  rectrices  diminishing  in  area  toward  the  outer  feathers 
forms  a  band,  obvious  when  the  tail  is  spread. 

Wing :  Lesser  upper  coverts  dusky,  margined  conspicuously  with 
white  for  the  most  part.  Median  upper  coverts  chiefly  chestnut,  some- 
times mottled  slightly  with  black.  Greater  coverts  dusky,  narrowly 
edged  and  broadly  terminated  with  white.  Bastard  wing  and  primary 
coverts  black,  the  inner  coverts  tipped  with  white.  Primaries  black  with 
white  shafts,  the  inner  ones  with  white  bases  and  tips.  Secondaries 
chiefly  white,  becoming  black  toward  the  ends  of  the  feathers,  these  black 
areas  decreasing  toward  the  innermost  secondaries  leaving  many  of  the 
inner  feathers  of  the  group  immaculate.  The  innermost  secondaries 
black,  mottled  with  bright  chestnut. 

Lower  parts :  Throat  and  under  surface  of  the  body  from  the  center 


AVES CHARADRIID^E.  263 

of  the  chest  backward  pure  white.  A  malar  line,  the  sides  of  the  neck, 
and  breast  black.  The  white  of  the  neck  defining  this  area  as  a  crescent 
above,  and  the  white  of  the  center  of  the  chest  giving  the  black  region  a 
crescentic  outline  below.  Under  wing  coverts  and  axillaries  pure  white. 
The  quills  have  an  ashy  white  aspect  from  below. 

Bill,  black. 

Tarsi  reddish  orange. 

Feet  and  toes  reddish  orange. 

Iris  deep  hazel  brown. 

Adult  Female.  —  (Breeding  plumage,  P.  U.  O.  C.  5604,  Cobbs  Island, 
Virginia,  24  May,  1881.  W.  E.  D.  S.) 

Similar  to  the  male,  but  with  all  the  colors  duller.  The  white  of  the 
crown  much  obscured  with  dusky  and  rufous,  as  is  the  hind  neck.  The 
chestnut  of  the  mantle  and  wings  duller.  The  black  areas  of  the  sides  of 
the  head,  breast  and  chest  not  so  well  defined  or  intense. 

Adults  in  Winter.  —  In  winter  the  adult  birds  are  dusky  brown,  showing 
little  or  no  trace  of  the  bright  chestnut  of  the  nuptial  dress.  The  edges 
of  the  feathers  are  ashy  brown  on  the  back  and  wings.  The  head  is  col- 
ored like  the  back,  and  the  upper  surface,  neck  and  sides  are  ashy  brown 
with  dusky  centers  to  the  feathers.  The  sides  of  the  face  are  brown, 
shaded  with  a  varying  degree  of  white  on  the  ear  coverts.  The  black 
areas  are  defined  on  the  cheeks  and  throat  and  breast,  but  are  somewhat 
obsolete.  The  white  crescentic  bands  on  the  neck  are  replaced  by 
patches  of  ashy  brown.  (P.  U.  O.  C.  3907,  <$•  ad.,  Gulf  Coast  Florida, 
26  December,  1879.  W.  E.  D.  S.)  (Fall  and  early  winter.) 

Young  of  the  year.  —  Similar  to  adults  in  winter,  but  with  all  the  feathers 
of  the  back  and  wings  edged  with  sandy  rufous  and  those  of  the  head 
streaked  with  sandy  buff.  The  tail  feathers  are  white  with  a  broad  sub- 
terminal  area  of  black  on  each  feather,  decreasing  in  extent  toward  the 
outermost  rectrices,  and  all  the  feathers  of  the  tail  tipped  with  sandy  buff. 
The  black  markings  of  the  sides  of  the  head,  neck  and  breast  are  clearly 
indicated  in  pattern  by  mottled,  dusky  feathers,  with  ashy  tips.  The  cres- 
centic band  on  the  neck,  white  in  the  adult  breeding  birds,  is  replaced  by 
a  band  of  similar  shape  but  dull  sandy  buff  in  color.  (P.  U.  O.  C.  3903 
cT,  coast  of  Maine,  August,  1876.  N.  C.  Brown.) 

The  difference  in  appearance  of  adults  in  winter  and  young  birds  in  the 
first  full  plumage  "  consists  in  the  sandy-buff  margins  to  the  feathers  of 


264  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

the  upper  surface,  which  are  very  distinct  in  the  latter  (first  full  plumage) 
at  first.  Afterward  they  become  abraded,  and  then  there  is  scarcely  any 
distinguishing  mark  between  the  winter  plumages  of  the  adult  and  young. 
In  the  spring  the  red  plumage  is  very  rapidly  acquired,  and  I  believe  that 
it  is  gained  quite  as  much  by  change  in  the  pattern  of  the  feather  as  by 
direct  moult."  (Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.,  XXIV,  p.  98,  1896). 
"Male:  Talcahuano,  September  9,  1879.  Iris  brown;  bill  horn-colour 
legs  and  feet  red."  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.,  1881,  p.  15. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Nearly  the   whole   world,    but   chiefly   on   sea 
coasts. 


So  far  as  known,  Arenaria  interpres  has  not  been  taken  in  Patagonia, 
but  it  seems  probable  that  it  occurs  in  the  area  under  consideration. 
The  citations  from  the  eastern  coast  of  South  America  indicate  the  prox- 
imity of  the  species,  and  its  well  known  nomadic  habits  point  to  its  being 
recorded  upon  a  more  careful  and  thorough  investigation  of  the  Pata- 
gonian  region.  Therefore  it  is  included  in  this  work. 

The  nearest  points  of  record  are  in  Chili  and'  Brazil,  and  from  islands 
in  the  South  Atlantic,  Tajcahuano,  Chili,  Cajutuba  and  Bahia,  Brazil,  and 
the  Galapagos  Islands. 

"About  the  first  week  in  June  the  Turnstone  deposits  its  eggs,  its  nest 
being  a  mere  depression  in  the  soil,  sometimes  sparingly  lined  with  a  few 
grass-bents,  the  locality  selected  being  usually,  if  not  always,  a  sandy  or 
rocky  soil.  On  the  island  of  Riigen,  Naumann  says,  it  breeds  regularly 
in  sandy  flats  covered  with  heath  and  a  few  scrubby  juniper  bushes,  and 
also  in  bare  sandy  places ;  and  Mr.  R.  Collet  writes  respecting  its  nidi- 
fication  on  the  Norwegian  coast  as  follows:  'The  last  few  years  I  have 
examined  a  considerable  number  of  the  nests  of  this  species,  in  particular 
on  the  coast  of  Namdalen  in  June,  1871.  They  are  mostly  built  under 
large  stones,  or  beneath  broad-leaved  plants  (Archangelica  littoralis,  or 
juniper  bushes] ;  and  several  pairs  were  generally  found  breeding  in  close 
proximity.  The  eggs,  invariably  four  in  number,  were  quite  fresh  in  the 
middle  of  June.  In  their  breeding-haunts  the  birds  exhibited  great  alarm, 
but  did  not,  like  the  Charadrii,  feign  to  be  wounded.  Incubation  spots 
were  found  in  both  sexes.  The  stomachs  of  those  examined  contained 


AVES CH  ARADRIID^E.  265 

small  coleoptera,  the  young  of  Littorinae,  small  crustaceans,  coarse  gravel 
and  scales  of  fishes,  the  latter  perhaps  swallowed  accidentally.' 

"I  possess  a  series  of  the  eggs  of  this  species  from  Sweden,  Norway, 
Finland,  and  Denmark,  which  are  dull  greenish  grey  in  ground-colour,  and 
are  more  or  less  spotted  and  blotched  with  dull  purplish  underlying  shell- 
markings,  and  dark  brown  overlying  surface-blotches,  some  having  these 
latter  small  and  closely  scattered  over  the  surface  of  the  shell,  whereas  in 
others  they  are  larger  and  more  scantily  strewn.  One  egg  is  dull  light 
olive-green,  with  but  few  markings,  except  at  the  larger  end,  where  it  is 
rather  heavily  blotched."  (H.  E.  Dresser,  Birds  of  Europe,  Vol.  VII. 
p.  563  (1871-1881.) 

Subfamily  H^EMATOPODIN^.. 

Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.    105  (1896);  id.,  Hand-List  Bds. 
I.  p.  147  (1899). 

Genus  H^MATOPUS  Linnaeus. 

Type. 

Ostmlega,  Briss.  Orn.  V.  p.  38  (1760) H.  ostralegus. 

Hczmatopus,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  257  (1766);  Sharpe, 
Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  105  (1896);  id., 
Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  147  (1899) H.  ostralegus, 

Melanibyx,  Reichenb.  Nat.  Syst.  Vog.  p.  XII  (1852)  .     .     H.  moquini. 

Geographical  Range.  — Almost  cosmopolitan. 

H^EMATOPUS  LEUCOPUS  Garnot. 
Hcematopus  leucopodus,Ga.rn.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  VII.  p.  47  (1826:  Falkland 

Islands). 

Ostmlega  leucopus,  Garn.  &  Less.  Voy.  Coq.  Zool.  I.  p.  721  (1826). 
Hcematopus  luctuosus,  Cuv.  Regn.  Anim.  I.  p.  584  (1829);  Schl.  Mus. 

Pays  Bas,  IV.   Cursores,   p.   74  (1865:    Falkland    Islands);    Gray, 

Hand-1.  B.  III.  p.  21,  no.  10058  (1871  :  Tierra  del  Fuego). 
Hematopus  arcticus,]2ccd..  ed.  Wils.  Am.  Orn.  III.  p.  35,  pi.  LXIV.  (1832); 

Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  547  (1847). 
Hcematopus  leucopus,  Gray,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  Grail,  p.  72  (1844:  Tierra 

del  Fuego:  Falkland  Islands);  id.  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  547  (1847); 


266  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 

P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  386  (East  Falklands) ;  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  156 
(Falkland  Islands,  breeds  in  Oct.) ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr. 
p.  143  (1873);  iid.  P.  Z.  S.,  1878,  p.  437;  iid.  Voy.  Chall.  II.  Birds, 
p.  1 08  (1881  :  Penguin  Isl. :  Elizabeth  Isl. :  Tom  Harbour) ;  Sharpe, 
P.  Z.  S.,  1881,  p.  15  (Cape  Sambo,  Trinidad  Channel,  March;  west 
coast  Patagonia:  Tom  Bay,  Jan.:  Hugh  Bay,  Dec.);  Seebohm, 
Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.  306  (1888) ;  Burm.  Ann.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos 
Aires,  III,  part  X.  p.  246  (1888:  Falklands);  Ridgw.  Proc.  U.  S. 
Nat.  Mus.  XII.  p.  136  (1889:  Elizabeth  Island);  Oust.  Miss.  Scient. 
Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  121,  330  (1891);  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit. 
Mus.  XXIV.  p.  113  (1896);  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  663 
(1898:  Punta  Anegada,  Str.  Magell.,  Jan.);  Sharpe,  Hand-list,  B.  I. 
p.  147  (1899);  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX.  p.  625  (1900: 
Penguin  Rookery,  Feb. :  Rio  Pescado,  May) ;  Carbajal,  La  Pata- 
gonia, II.  p.  273  (1900) ;  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p. 
14  (1900:  Patagonia);  Nicoll,  Ibis  1904,  p. 32  ;  id  Zool.  1904,  p.  401  ; 
Crawshay,  B.  Tierra  del  Fuego,-  p.  123  (1907);  Useless  Bay,  Sept. 
2  ;  San  Sebastian  Settlement,  Oct.  22  (1904)  breeding,  eggs  procured. 
f  Hcematopus  bicolor,  Vincig.  Boll.  Soc.  Geogr.  Ital.  (2)  IX.  p.  798  (1884). 

FIG.  145. 


Hcematopus  leucopus.     P.  U.  C.  O.  7805.     Adult  male.     One  third  natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  male.  (P.  U.  O.  C.  7805,  Montez  Ranch, .near  Rio  Coy, 
Patagonia,  i  October,  1896.  J.  B.  Hatcher.)  Total  length,  about  16.6 
inches. 

Wing,  10.4  inches. 


AVES CHARADRIID/E  267 

Culmen,  3.05  inches. 

Tail,  4.05  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.75  inches. 

The  adult  female  is  appreciably  larger  than  the  adult  male. 

Color. — Adult  male  (cited  above).  General  color  above  black,  with  a 
white  area  on  each  closed  wing  and  on  the  upper  tail  coverts.  Below, 
black  as  far  back  as  the  chest,  thence  white. 

Head:  Entirely  glossy  black,  except  for  a  small  crescentic  white  spot 
below  the  eye. 

Neck :  Entirely  glossy  black. 

Back :  Mantle,  lower  back,  and  rump  glossy  black  ;  the  upper  tail 
coverts  white. 

Tail :  Terminal  portion  of  rectrices  glossy  black,  the  basal  half  pure 
white,  the  color  of  the  shafts  matching  the  color  of  each  'area. 

Wings  :  The  upper  coverts  glossy  black.  The  secondary  coverts  with 
broad  white  tips.  Primaries  black,  with  no  white  along  the  shafts  or  on  the 
inner  webs.  All  the  secondaries  except  the  extreme  inner  ones  pure  white. 

Lower  parts  glossy  black  from  the  bill  back  to  the  breast,  where  the 
black  abruptly  terminates.  The  remainder  of  the  under  surface  white. 
Most  of  the  under  wing  coverts  black,  the  axillaries  white. 

Bill,  "orange  red." 

Feet,  "grey." 

"Iris  and  eyelid  brilliant  yellow"  (data  of  color  of,  soft  parts  quoted 
from  Dr.  Coppinger). 

The  female  is  similar  to  the  male  in  color. 

636,  male,  Penguin  Islands. 

"Bill  red,  legs  flesh,  eyes  orange." 

653,  female,  )  ~ 

\  Tom  Harbour. 

654,  young,  j 

"Eyes  orange;  stomach  had  mussels." 

"  Eyes  of  young  were  brown,  bill  of  adult  red,  feet  flesh-coloured  ;  bill 
of  young  brown." 

66 1,  female,  Tom  Harbour. 

720,  male,  Elizabeth  Island. 

"Eyes  yellow,  feet  flesh,  bill  red,  eyelids  red;  stomachs  had  mussels." 
(Sclater  &  Salvin,  on  Birds  Antarctic  America,  Voy.  H.M.S.  "Chall." 
—  No.  IX.  pp.  437-438,  1878.) 


268  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY 

Immature  birds  are  similar  to  the  adults,  but  having  the  black  areas 
more  dusky  and  rusty  margins  to  all  the  feathers  of  the  upper  parts. 
The  white  area  extends  well  up  on  the  breast. 

Geographical  Range.  —  The  Falkland  Islands,  lands  about  the  Straits 
of  Magellan  and  north  on  the  coasts  of  Patagonia  to  at  least  5 1  °  South 
Latitude. 


The  bird  taken  by  the  naturalists  of  the  Princeton  Expeditions  was  pro- 
cured near  the  mouth  of  Rio  Coy,  which  appears  to  extend  its  range  far- 
ther north  than  heretofore  known,  and  also  some  short  distance  from  the 
coast. 

This  genus,  so  generally  distributed,  is  found  on  almost  every  seacoast 
of  both  continents.  In  all  this  wide  distribution  there  does  not  appear  to 
be  any  great  diversity  of  habit  among  the  many  species  that  are  described. 
The  birds  are  generally  not  gregarious,  but  are  usually  found  in  pairs. 
They  seem  in  most  regions  to  prefer  sandy  beaches,  particularly  such  as 
have  dunes  adjoining,  and  in  such  localities  they  nest. 

From  the  fact  that  they  frequent  these  places,  as  well  as  their  known 
habit  of  feeding  on  the  smaller  crustaceans,  it  seems  improbable  that 
oysters  form  any  appreciable  part  of  the  food  of  these  birds.  On  the 
coasts  of  Virginia  and  New  Jersey,  adjacent  to  large  areas  of  oyster  beds, 
many  of  which  are  exposed  at  low  water,  Mr.  Scott  has  never  seen  the 
Oyster-catchers  of  these  shores  leave  the  sea-beaches  and  sand  dunes  to 
forage  for  the  bivalve  that  has  given  a  name  to  the  several  representatives 
in  many  parts  of  the  world.  That  the  bill  is  used  for  boring  in  the  sand 
after  small  shell  fish  and  crustaceans  is  amply  attested  by  the  tracks  left 
by  a  pair  of  feeding  birds. 

The  nest  is  little  more  than  a  hollow  in  the  sand  within  the  border  of 
the  dunes,  and  here  three  eggs  are  laid.  These  are  large  for  the  size  of 
the  bird ;  almost  as  big  as  those  of  an  ordinary  domestic  fowl.  From  the 
nest  to  the  nearest  point  of  the  sea  a  path  is  formed  by  the  two  parent 
birds,  which,  as  time  goes  on,  becomes  a  conspicuous  track  that  will  serve 
the  searcher  to  discover  the  nest.  This  trail  is  formed  by  the  birds  going 
to  feed  at  low  water,  the  time  spent  at  the  nesting  site  being  during  the 
higher  stages  of  the  tide. 


270  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY 

The  British  Museum  has  received  examples  from  Lake  Blanco,  Chubut, 
collected  by  J.  Koslowsky,  during  the  months  of  September,  October  and 
November. 

H/EMATOPUS    DURNFORDI     Sharpe. 

Hcematoptis  palliatus,  Darwin  (nee  Temm),  Voy.  "Beagle"  Birds,  p.  128 
(1841  :  Rio  de  La  Plata);  Durnf.  Ibis,  1878,  p.  403  (Tambo  Point, 
mouth  of  Chupat  river,  Dec.,  breeding) ;  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn. 
II.  p.  176  (1889). 

H&matopus  dumfordi,  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  117,  pi.  VI. 
(1896:  Patagonia);  id.  Hand-list  B.  I.  p.  147  (1899);  Martens, 
Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  14  (1900:  Patagonia). 

• 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION.  * 

Size. — Adult.     Total  length,  1 6  inches. 

Wing,  9.7  inches. 

Culmen,  2.55  inches. 

Tail,  3.6  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.9  inches. 

Color. — Adult.  General  color  above  chocolate  brown  on  body,  chang- 
ing abruptly  into  black  on  the  neck,  which  color  is  continuous  to  the  bill. 
Below,  black  from  the  bill  to  the  chest,  then  abruptly  white,  which  color 
prevails  on  the  rest  of  the  lower  surface,  except  on  the  under  tail  coverts 
which  are  blackish  brown. 

Head  entirely  black.     No  white  below  eye.     Neck  entirely  black. 

Back,  mantle,  lower  back,  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  chocolate  brown. 

Tail  blackish  brown  without  prominent  bases  of  white  to  any  of  the 
feathers. 

Wings :  The  white  area  on  the  wing  comparatively  small.  None  of  the 
primaries  white  shafted  or  with  white  areas  on  the  webs.  The  greater 
coverts  tipped  with  white,  this  forming  only  a  narrow  band  on  the  closed 
wing.  All  the  secondaries  have  some  black  and  most  of  them  a  great 
deal  of  that  color  at  their  ends  on  the  outer  webs. 

Lower  parts :  Black  from  the  bill  backward  to  the  chest.  Then  ab- 
ruptly white  to  the  under  tail  coverts,  which  are  mostly  shaded  heavily 
with  blackish  brown. 

"Bill  dark  pink;  legs  and  feet  greenish  yellow;  iris  light  orange" 
(H.  Durnford). 


/  / 


272  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY 

Geographical  Range:  Patagonia. 

"Several  pairs  were  observed  on  Tambo  Point  in  December  and  the 
bird  occasionally  occurs  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chupat.  It  was  nesting  in 
the  former  place,  but  I  failed  to  discover  the  eggs."  (Durnford,  Ibis, 
1878,  p.  403.) 

The  bird  here  referred  to  is  the  species  under  discussion,  though  Durn- 
ford referred  to  it  under  the  head  of  Hcematopus  palliatus. 

HCEMATOPUS    ATER    (LeSSOn). 

Hcematopus  niger,  Quoy  &  Gaim.  (nee  Pall.),  Voy.  Uranie,  Zool.  I.  p.  129, 
pi.  24  (1824:  Falkland  Is.);  Schl.  Mus.  Pays  Bas ;  IV.  Cursores,  p. 
76  part  (1865:  Straits  of  Magellan  :  Falkland  Is.). 

Ostralega  atra,  Less.  Traite  d'Orn.  p.  548  (1831  :  Falkland  Islands). 

Hcematopus  ater,  Vieill.  et  Oud.  Gal.  Ois.  II.  p.  88,  pi.  230  (1834) ;  Cass. 
&  Lawr.  B.  N.  Amer.  p.  700  (1858:  Coast  of  Chili);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S. 
1860,  p.  386  (Falkland  Is.) ;  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  155  (Falkland 
Islands,  resident,  breeds  in  Nov.);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867,  pp.  331,  339 
(Chili);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Ibis,  1870,  p.  499  (Port  Laguna,  Nov.);  Cun- 
ningh.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.  p.  123  (1871) ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl. 
Av.  Neotr.  p.  143  (1873:  Chili,  Patagonia,  and  Falkland  Is.); 
Durnf.  Ibis,  1878,  p.  403  (Tambo  Point);  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S. 
1878,  p.  438  (Elizabeth  Isl.) ;  iid.  Voy.  Chall.  II.  Birds,  p.  109 
(1881);  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  15  (Port  Henry);  Salvin,  P.  Z.  S. 
1883,  p.  429  (San  Lorenzo  Isl.);  Vincig.  Exped.  Austr.  Arg.  p.  58 
(1883:  Isola  degli  Stati) ;  id.  Patag.  p.  59;  id.  Boll.  Soc.  Geogr. 
Ital.  (2)  IX.  p.  798  (1884);  Tacz.  Orn.  Perou,  III,  p.  351  (1886); 
Macfarl.  Ibis,  1887,  p.  205  (San  Lorenzo  Isl.,  very  common);  Burm. 
An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part  X.  p.  246  (1888:  Falkland 
Is.);  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  176  (1889:  Tambo  Point, 
Patagonia);  Ridgw.  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  XII.  p.  136  (1889): 
Elizabeth  Isl.);  Oust.  Miss.  Scient.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  119,330 
(1891);  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV,  p.  121  (1896);  id.  Hand- 
list B.  I.  p.  147  (1899);  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX.  p.  624 
(1900;  Penguin  Rookery,  Feb.:  Rio  Pescado,  May);  Martens, 
Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  14  (1900:  Falkland  Islands); 
Crawshay,  B.  Tierra  del  Fuego,  p.  125  (1907):  Admiralty  Sound, 
January,  19,  1905. 


AVES — CHARADRIID^B;  273 

Hcematopiis  unicolor,  Gould  (nee  Wagl.),  P.  Z.  S.  1859,  p.  96  (Falkland 

Islands,  eggs). 
Hcematopus  niger  ater,  Baird,  Brewer,  &  Ridgw.  Water  Birds  N.  Amer. 

I.  p.  109  (1884);  Seebohm,  Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.  311  (1888). 
Melanibyx  ater,  Heine  &  Reichen.     Nomencl.  Mus.  Hein.  p.  337  (1890: 

Chili). 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult.     Total  length,  about  16  inches. 

Wing,  10.7  inches. 

Culmen,  2.8  inches. 

Tail,  3.7  inches. 

Tarsus,  2  inches. 

Color.  —  Adult  male.  General  color  black  or  deep  chocolate  brown 
throughout. 

Head:  Black. 

Neck:  Black. 

Back:  Deep  chocolate  brown. 

Wing :  Deep  chocolate  brown. 

Tail :  Deep  chocolate  brown. 

Lower  Parts :  Black  like  the  head  and  neck,  on  the  breast  and  imper- 
ceptibly shading  into  a  darker  brown  than  that  of  the  upper  parts. 

"  Bill  dark  pink;  legs  and  feet  greenish  yellow;  iris  dark  orange"  (H. 
Durnford).  The  bill  is  very  much  deeper  and  more  compressed  than  in 
any  of  the  close  allies  of  the  species.  At  the  end  the  shape  is  that  of  a 
thin  blade,  reminding  one  of  the  bill  of  Rhynchops. 

Immature  and  young  birds  are  much  browner  than  adults  and  the 
feathers  of  the  brown  parts  of  the  plumage  are  edged  with  sandy  buff. 
The  head  and  neck  as  well  as  the  breast  are  deep  sooty. 

721,  female,  Elizabeth  Island. 

"  Eyes  yellow,  feet  flesh,  bill  red,  eyelids  red  ;  stomach  had  mussels." 

Sclater&Salvin,  on  Birds  Antarctic  America,  Voy.  H.  M.  S.  "  Chall."- 
No.  IX.  p.  438,  1878. 

"  Female  :  Fort  Henry,  January  29,  1879.  Eyes  black  ;  eyelids  orange- 
red  ;  bill  orange-red;  feet  grey."  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  15. 

"  Two  species  of  Hcematopus,  I  may  here  observe,  are  common  through- 


274  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 

out  the  Strait  of  Magellan,  and  on  the  west  coast  of  South  America  as 
far  north  as  Chiloe.  The  plumage  of  one  of  these  (H.  ater]  is  wholly 
black,  while  that  of  the  other  (H.  palliatus]  is  pied  with  black  and  white, 
so  as  closely  to  resemble  the  British  H.  ostralegus.  We  found  them  both 
to  be  very  good  eating,  and  they  were  therefore  entered  in  the  game-book 
which  was  kept  by  one  of  our  number  as  a  register  of  the  skill  of  the 
sportsmen.  Like  many  other  Grallce,  they  are  possessed  of  tolerable 
swimming  powers."  (Cunn.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.,  1871,  p.  123.) 


Subfamily  LOBIVANELUN&. 

Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.    122,    1896;    Sharpe,   Hand-list 
Bds.  I.  p.  148,  1899. 

Genus  OREOPHILUS  Jardin  &  Selby. 

Type. 

Oreophilus,  Jard  &  Selby,  111.  Orn.  III.  pi.  151  (1835); 
Sharpe  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  123  (1896) 
Sharpe,  Hand-list  Bds.  I.  p.  148  (1899) O.  ruficollis, 

Dromicus,  Less.  Echo  du  Monde  Savant,  1844,  c°l-  616    .     O.  rnfic&llis. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Peculiar  to  Southern  South  America  and  the 
Falkland  Islands. 


OREOPHILUS  RUFICOLLIS  (Jardin  &  Selby). 

Charadrius  ruficollis,  Wagl.  Isis,  1829,  p.  653,  ex  Licht.  Mus.  Berol. 

Oreophilus  totanirostris,  Jard  &  Selb.  111.  Orn.  III.  pi.  151  (1835:  Andes 
of  Chili);  Darwin,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p.  125  (1841:  Maldonado  : 
Valparaiso);  Eraser,  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  P-  JI7  (Chili,  rare);  Des  Murs 
in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  399  (1847);  Hartl.  Naum.  1853,  p. 
221  (Chili);  Huds.  P.  Z.  S.  1872,  p.  549  (Rio  Negro);  Cab.  J.  f. 
O.  1878,  p.  199  (Sierra  de  Cordova) ;  Doering,  Expl.  al  Rio  Negro, 
Zool.  p.  56  (1882:  Rincon  Grande:  Rio  Colorado) ;  Burm.  An.  Mus. 
Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part  X.  pp.  246,  319  (1888:  North  and 
Central  Patagonia). 

Dromicus  lessoni,  Less.  Echo  du  Monde  Savant  coll.  617.     (1844.) 


AVES CHARADRIID^E  275 

Hoploptenis  ruficollis,  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  542  (1844). 

Oreophilus  ruficollis,  Licht.  Nomencl.  Av.  Mus.  Berol.  p.  94  (1854):  Scl. 
P.  Z.  S.  1867,  pp.  331,  339  (Chili);  id.  &  Salv.  t.  c.  p.  989  (Islay, 
Peru);  iid.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  570  (Western  Peru);  iid.  Ibis,  1868, 
p.  189  (Sandy  Bay,  Str.  Magell.  April) ;  iid.  Ibis,  1870,  p.  499  (Gal- 
legos  River,  March) ;  Cunningh.  Nat.  Hist.  Str.  Magell.  p.  474(1871) ; 
Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  143  (1873:  Patagonia); 
Durnf.  Ibis,  1877,  P-  42  (Chupat  Valley,  Nov.),  p.  197  (Buenos 
Aires);  id.  Ibis,  1878,  p.  402  (Tambo  Point,  Dec.  breeding);  Tacz. 
Orn.  Perou  III.  p.  347  (1886:  Junin) ;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1886,  p.  403 
(Tarapaca) ;  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  174  (1889:  Rio  Negro, 
winter);  Oust.  Miss.  Scient.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  p.  116  (1891); 
Holland,  Ibis,  1891,  p.'i6  (Argent.  Rep.);  id.  Ibis,  1892,  p.  210 
(Estancia  Espartilla,  fairly  common,  April  to  July) ;  James,  New 
ListChil.  B.  p.  u.  (1892) ;  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  123 
(1896);  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  664  (1898:  Concepcion, 
June:  Punta  Arenas,  Feb.);  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr. 
Vog.  p.  14  (1900:  Patagonia). 

Morinellus  totanirostris,  Schl.  Mus.    Pays   Bas,    Cursores,   p.   47   (1863: 
Santiago,  Chili  :  Bolivia). 

Charadrius  totanirostris,  Seebohm.  Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.  111,  pi.  4 
(1888). 

FIG.  148. 


Oreophilus  ruficollis.     Adult  male.     P.  U.  O.  C.  7789.     Natural  size. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  male   (P.  U.  O.  C.   7981,   Rio  Deseado,   Patagonia,  29 
March,  1898,  A.  E.  Colburn). 


276  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 

Total  length,  9.55  inches. 

Wing,  6.5  inches. 

Culmen,  1.25  inches. 

Tail,  2.85  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.95  inches. 

The  sexes  do  not  vary  in  size,  but  there  is  an  appreciable  variation 
among  the  seven  individuals  of  the  Princeton  collection  in  this  respect 
that  does  not  correlate  with  sex. 

Color. — Adult  male  (cited  above).  General  color  above  sandy  ash 
brown,  plain  on  the  head  and  neck,  and  much  variegated  on  the  mantle, 
wings  and  back  with  deep  umber,  almost  black,  and  cinnamon  buff. 
Below,  the  prevailing  color  is  buffy,  with  a  black  area  on  the  lower  breast, 
grey  on  the  neck,  orange  cinnamon  on  the  throat,  fading  to  almost 
white  on  the  chin. 

Head:  Crown  deep  ashy  grey  with  a  strong  olive  tinge,  and  faint 
median  dusky  lines  on  each  feather.  Forehead  to  its  base  and  a  broad 
eyebrow  buffy  white  with  a  tawny  tinge,  especially  above  the  ear  coverts. 
This  eyebrow  is  prolonged  so  as  to  form  an  almost  complete  nuchal 
band.  A  black  stripe  extends  from  the  angle  of  the  bill  to  the  eye, 
crossing  the  loral  region,  and  extending  for  half  an  inch  behind  the  eye. 
Forecheeks  creamy  white  shading  into  ashy  grey  on  the  ear  coverts. 

Neck :  Chin  creamy  white  shading  into  a  well  defined  jugular  orange- 
cinnamon  patch.  Lower  throat  and  neck  ashy  grey,  tinged  with  olive  and 
sandy  and  shading  into  creamy  buff  on  the  lower  breast.  Hind  neck 
ashy  grey  with  olive  shading. 

Back :  Fore  mantle  ashy  grey,  becoming  streaked  with  dark  centers  to 
each  feather  on  the  mantle  proper.  This  shades  into  the  variegated  area 
between  the  wings  where  each  feather  has  dark  centres  with  sandy  rufous 
and  sandy  grey  margins.  Lower  back  and  rump  olive  grey.  Upper  tail 
coverts  sandy  buff,  with  dull  olive  grey  cross  bars. 

Tail :  Slaty  grey,  with  tawny  bases,  and  tips  of  pale  broad  buff.  In 
the  slaty  grey  area  of  each  feather  is  a  dark  spot,  arrow-shaped  on  the 
central  rectrices  and  becoming  a  band  on  the  outer  ones. 

Wings:  Greater  coverts  dark  brown  margined  with  sandy  buff,  and 
with  whitish  or  creamy  white  at  the  ends  of  the  feathers,  form  a  more  or 
less  distinct  wing  bar.  The  lesser  and  median  coverts  like  the  feathers  of 
the  middle  back.  Bastard  wing  and  primary  coverts  dull  greyish  brown. 


AVES CHARADRIID^E  277 

Quills  dark  brown  ;  the  primaries  with  white  along  the  inner  web  and 
with  narrow  edging  at  the  ends.  Shafts  of  primaries  ivory  white.  The 
first  primary  without  white  on  outer  web,  the  white  area  beginning  to 
show  on  the  outer  web  of  the  second  primary,  and  increasing  in  amount 
on  each  succeeding  primary.  The  secondaries  are  dark  brown,  and  have 
white  tips  and  bases,  to  the  inner  ones,  which  are  externally  much  like  the 
back  in  color. 

Lower  Parts:  Chin  pale  creamy  or  white  shading  into  cinnamon 
orange  on  the  upper  throat,  which  color  shades  abruptly  into  pale  olive 
grey  on  the  upper  breast,  in  turn  shading  into  the  general  creamy  buff  of 
the  rest  of  the  under  surface.  Sharply  contrasted  in  the  fore  part  of  this 
creamy  buff  region,  on  the  lower  chest  is  a  crescentic  area  of  glossy  black. 
Under  tail  coverts  creamy  buff  with  some  traces  of  dull  obsolete  bars. 
Under  wing  coverts  and  axillaries  pure  white. 

Bill  black. 

Legs  and  tarsi  flesh  color. 

Feet  and  toes  blackish. 

Iris  dark  brown. 

The  sexes  do  not  differ  in  color. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Patagonia  northward  to  the  Rio  de  La  Plata ; 
Chili  and  Peru ;  the  Falkland  Islands. 


This  Plover  was  met  with  by  the  naturalists  of  the  Princeton  Expedi- 
tions throughout  the  uplands  of  Patagonia  everywhere,  but  was  particu- 
larly common  near  Cape  Fairweather  and  at  points  on  the  Rio  Deseado. 
The  series  of  seven  of  these  birds  brought  to  the  University  Museum  do 
not  vary  appreciably  in  color,  but  one  individual  presents  a  departure  in 
size  that  is  noticeable  without  detailed  measurement. 

No.  7789  P.  U.  O.  C.  (labelled)  male  and  in  adult  plumage  was  taken 
near  Mt.  Tigre,  Patagonia,  14  August,  1896.  The  wing  of  this  bird 
measures  7.1  inches,  the  exposed  culmen  1.4  inches  and  the  tarsus  2.05 
inches,  a  noticeable  excess  in  size  above  the  normal  average. 

Durnford  found  the  birds  breeding  at  Tambo  Point  in  December,  and 
from  his  observations  the  following  passage  is  quoted : 

"Partially  resident  but  not  numerous  in  the  spring,  when  many  cross 


278 


PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 


the  Chupat,  going  southward.  It  was  nesting  on  the  hills  bordering  the 
valley  of  the  Sengel  and  generally  seen  throughout  our  journey.  On  the 
3Oth  December  I  caught  two  chicks  on  Tambo  Point ;  they  are  pretty  little 
downy  things,  mottled  all  over  with  light  and  dark  chocolate  and  white. 

"The  adult  has  the  iris  wood-brown,  beak  black,  legs  flesh-colour,  feet 
and  claws  black."  (Durnford,  Ibis,  1878,  p.  402.) 

"Another  Plover  which  breeds  in  South  Patagonia  and  comes  north  for 
the  winter.  On  the  i8th  May,  I  saw  a  small  bunch  in  the  camp  at  Sta. 
Ana,  but  they  were  so  wild  I  could  not  get  a  shot.  They  uttered  a  few 
whistles,  quite  different  from  that  of  the  Golden  Plover,  on  rising.  On 
the  following  Sunday  I  saw  them  again  when  riding  without  a  gun, 
but  a  long  search  next  morning  was  not  rewarded.  There  is  a  local 
specimen  in  the  Museum."  (O.  V.  Alpin,  on  Birds  Uruguay,  Ibis,  p.  207. 
1894.) 


P.  U.  O.  C. 

Sex 

Date 

Locality 

Collector 

Skin 

7789 

J1 

14  August,  1896. 

Near  Mt.  Tigre, 

O.  A.  Peterson. 

Patagonia. 

ii 

7790 

'<f 

14  August,  1896. 

Near  Mt.  Tigre, 

O.  A.  Peterson. 

Patagonia. 

ii 

7979 

C? 

29  March,  1898. 

Rio  Deseado, 

A.  E.  Colburn. 

Patagonia. 

a 

7980 

C? 

29  March,  1898. 

Rio  Deseado, 

A.  E.  Colburn. 

Patagonia. 

a 

7981 

<? 

29  March,  1898. 

Rio  Deseado, 

A.  E.  Colburn. 

Patagonia. 

tt 

7982 

J 

8  March,  1898. 

Rio  Chico, 

A.  E.  Colburn. 

Patagonia. 

tt 

8303         9 

29  March,  1898. 

Rio  Deseado, 

A.  E.  Colburn. 

Patagonia. 

This  species,  both  adult  and  young,  has  been  collected  at  Lake  Blanco 
in  the  Chubut  District  by  J.  Koslowsky  during  the  months  of  September 
and  November. 

Subfamily  CHARADRIINA1. 

Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  145,  1896;  Sharpe,  Hand-list  Bds. 
I.  p.  159,  1899. 


Genus  BELANOPTERUS  Reichenbach. 

Belanoptems,  Reichenbach,   Av.   Syst.   Nat.   p.   XVIII. 
(1852);  Sharpe,  Cat  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  163 


Type. 


AVES CHARADRIID^E  279 

(1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-list  Bds.I.   p.  151  (1899)    .     B.   cayennensis, 
Geographical  Range.  —  Peculiar  to  South  America. 
BELANOPTERUS  CHILENSIS  (Molina). 

• 

Parra  chilensis,  Molina,  Saggio  St.  Chile,  p.  239  (1789). 

Vanellus  cayennensis,  Bridges  (nee  Gm.),  P.  Z.  S.  1841,  p.  94  (Chili); 
Gray,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  part  III.  p.  63  (1844:  Valparaiso);  Des 
Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  400  (1847)  I  Hartl.  Naum.  1853, 
pp.  215,  221  (Chili);  Burm.  La  Plata  Reise,  II.  p.  502  (1861  :  Men- 
doza) ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  Ibis,  1869,  p.  284  (Gregory  Bay,  Dec.) ;  iid. 
Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  142  pt  (1873);  Durnf.  Ibis,  1877,  p.  42 
(Chupat  Valley,  breeding) ;  id.  Ibis,  1878,  p.  402  (Central  Patagonia); 
Doering,  Expl.  al  Rio  Negro.  Zool.  p.  55(1882);  Burm.  An.  Mus. 
Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part  X,  p.  246  (1888),  part  XI.  p.  319  (.1890: 
banks  of  the  rivers  of  northern  and  central  Patagonia) ;  Scl.  & 
Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  165  part  (1889);  James, 'New  List  Chil. 
B.  p.  ii  (1892);  Lataste,  Actes  Soc.  Scient.  Chile,  III.  p.  cxv 
(1894:  Ninhue,  Chilian  Cordilleras,  May);  Carbajal,  La  Patagonia, 
II.  p.  273  (1900). 

Philomachits  cayanus,  Gould,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p.  127  part  (1841). 

Philomachus  chilensis,  Fraser,  P.  Z.  S,  1843,  p.  117  (Chili). 

JSanellus  chilensis,  Yarrell,  P.  Z.  S.  1847,  p.  54  (Chili) ;  Schalow,  Zool. 
Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  666  (1898:  Ovalle,  Dec.). 

Hoplopterus  cayanus  Scl.  (nee  Lath.),  P.  Z.  S.  1861,  p.  46  (Falkland 
Islands);  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  155  (Stanley,  East  Falklands) ; 
Oust.  Miss.  Scient.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  p.  289  (1891). 

Vanelhis  cayanus,  Cunningh.  (nee  Lath.),  Ibis  1868,  p.  490  (Gregory 
Bay). 

Vanellus  occidentalis,  Harting,  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  451  ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z. 
S.  1878,  p.  437  (Elizabeth  Island) ;  iid.  Voy.  Chall.  II.  Birds,  p.  108 
(1881);  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  14  (Pecket  Harbour:  Talcahuano, 
Nov.);  Tacz.  Orn.  Perou,  III.  p.  335  (1886). 

Vanellus  cayennensis  chilensis,  Seebohm,  Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.  218 
(1888). 

Belanopterns  chilensis,  Ridgw.  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  XII.  p.  136  (1889: 
Gregory  Bay);  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  165  (1896); 


280  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY 

Lane,  Ibis,  1897,  P-  3°2  (San  Pedro  &  San  Antonio)  Sharpe,  Hand- 
list Bds.  I.  p.  151  (1899);  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog. 
p.  14  (1900:  Patagonia);  Crawshay,  B.  Tierra  del  Fuego,  p.  116 
(1907):  San  Sebastian  Settlement,  Oct.,  1904  ;  Useless  Bay  Settle- 
ment, Oct.,  1904,  breeding,  eggs  obtained. 

FIG.  149. 


Belanopterus  chilensis.     Adult  female.     P.  U.  O.  C.  7777.     About  one  half  natural  size. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  male  (P.  U.  O.  C.  7776,  16  January,  1898,  Guer  Aike, 
Patagonia,  A.  E.  Colburn). 

Total  length,  14.7  inches. 

Wing,  9.5  inches. 

Culmen,  1.4  inches. 

Tail,  4.7  inches. 

Tarsus,  2.7  inches. 

The  female  is  appreciably  larger. 

Total  length,  15.75  inches. 

Wing,  9.7  inches. 

Culmen,  1.3  inches. 

Tail,  4.4  inches. 

Tarsus,  2.8  inches. 

(P.  U.  O.  C.  7774,  adult  female,  near  Rio  Coy,  Patagonia,  14  Sep- 
tember, 1898,  A.  E.  Colburn.) 


AVES CHARADRIID;G  28l 

Color. — Adult  male  (cited).  General  color  above,  ashy;  grayer  on  the 
head,  olive  on  the  mantle  and  wings,  shaded  with  an  iridescent  metallic 
gloss,  reflecting  bronze,  green  and  peacock  shades.  Lower  back  grey, 
rump  and  tail  white,  the  latter  with  a  broad  black  subterminal  bar. 

Lower  parts  black  on  chest,  breast,  neck,  throat  and  chin ;  white  on 
lower  breast  and  abdomen. 

Head :  With  a  long,  slender,  recurved  occipital  crest.  Forehead 
black,  back  as  far  as  above  the  fore  part  of  the  eyes,  including  most  of 
the  loral  region.  The  black  defined  by  a  white  band  crossing  the  an- 
terior part  of  the  crown  and  passing  down  in  front  of  the  eyes  along 
the  sides  of  throat  and  neck.  This  white  is  in  sharp  definition  where  it 
touches  the  black  and  shades  off  on  its  approach  to  the  grey  areas  into  that 
color.  Rest  of  head,  including  the  crown,  occiput,  auricular  region  and 
sides  of  face,  clear  ashy  grey.  Eyelids  with  darker  grey  shading. 

Neck:  Ashy  grey  above  and  on  the  sides,  black  below.  The  black 
divided  from  the  ashy  by  a  white  streak  or  band  as  described  on  the  head. 

Back  :  Chiefly  ashy  grey.  The  mantle  and  parts  of  the  scapular 
region  with  a  strong  olive  tinge  and  shaded  with  iridescent  metallic 
green  bronze.  Lower  back  and  rump  clear  ashy  gray.  Upper  tail 
coverts  pure  white. 

Wings :  With  a  long  sharp  spur  at  the  carpal  joint.  Yellow  in  color. 
The  lesser  coverts  purplish  blue  black,  glossed  with  bronzy  metallic 
green.  Median  and  greater  wing  coverts  pure  white  ;  the  inner  coverts 
shading  into  ashy.  Bastard  wing,  primary  coverts  and  primaries  black. 
Outer  secondaries  black,  the  inner  secondaries  ashy  brown  or  whitish  at 
their  bases  and  the  innermost  ones  wholly  ashy  brown,  glossed  with  dull 

metallic  bluish  green. 

FIG.  150. 


Belanopterns  chilensis.     Diagram  of  wing  showing  spur.     Reduced. 

Tail :   Pure  white  for  about  the  basal  two  thirds,  then  a  broad  black 
band  an  inch  and  three  quarters  wide,  and  a  terminal  white  band  about 


282  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 

half  an  inch  wide.  The  black  band  is  widest  on  the  central  pair  of 
feathers,  gradually  narrowing  a  little  on  each  pair  so  as  to  be  about  an 
inch  and  a  quarter  wide  on  the  outer  rectrices. 

Lower  parts :  Black  from  the  chin  to  the  posterior  line  of  the  breast, 
thence  abruptly  white  for  the  remainder  of  the  lower  surface,  including 
the  under-wing  coverts  and  axillaries.  Primary  quills  black  below  ;  sec- 
ondaries, the  outer  black  below,  the  inner  ones  with  a  decreasing  amount 
of  that  color  and  the  innermost  showing  no  black. 

Bill :  Reddish  at  base  shading  into  dusky  at  tip. 

Legs  and  feet  deep  brown  flesh  color,  lightest  on  the  bare  portion  of 
the  leg  and  pinkish  at  the  joint,  shading  into  duller  on  the  tarsi  and  feet. 

Iris:   Brilliant  red  (J.  B.  Hatcher). 

The  adult  female  does  not  differ  from  the  adult  male  in  color ;  with 
recurved  crest  and  wing  spur. 

Immature  Birds.  —  (P.  U.  O.  C.  7778,  male,  Port  of  Gallegos,  Pata- 
gonia, 10  January,  1898,  A.  E.  Colburn.)  Have  all  the  color  pattern  of 
the  adults  plainly  indicated  even  to  the  metallic  shading  and  iridescence. 
Each  feather  of  the  mantle  and  back  of  neck  and  crown,  as  well  as  the 
coverts  of  the  wing  are  tipped  with  sandy  buff,  and  the  larger  coverts  are 
also  barred  with  this  color  near  their  ends.  The  black  of  the  forehead  is 
almost  obsolete  on  account  of  the  sandy  tips,  but  can  readily  be  seen  on 
raising  the  feathers.  The  chin  and  upper  throat  are  also  suffused  by 
sandy  tips  to  each  feather.  The  crest  is  indicated  and  the  spurs  on  the 
wings  present,  though  short  and  dull.  No  other  suffusions.  This  bird  is 
in  the  first  plumage,  and  it  is  of  great  interest  to  see  the  long  down  fila- 
ments on  two  of  thfe  outer  tail  feathers,  the  rest  of  the  down  plumes  being 
worn  away. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Patagonia,  the  Falkland  Islands,  Chili  and  Peru. 

"I  met  with  this  bird  from  latitude  30°  to  45°  S.  on  both  sides  of  South 
America.  In  La  Plata  it  is  called  'Teru-tero'  in  imitation  of  its  cry;  and 
in  Chile,  according  to  Molina,  'Thegel.'  These  birds,  which  in  many 
respects  resemble  in  habits  our  peewits  (l^anellus  cristatus),  frequent,  gen- 
erally in  pairs,  open  grassy  land,  and  especially  the  neighbourhood  of  lakes. 
As  the  peewit  takes  its  name  from  the  sound  of  its  voice,  so  does  the  teru- 
tero.  While  riding  over  the  grassy  plains,  one  is  constantly  pursued  by 


AVES CHARADRIID^E  283 

these  birds,  which  appear  to  hate  mankind  and,  I  am  sure  deserve  to  be 
hated,  for  their  never-ceasing,  unvaried,  harsh  screams.  The  stillness  of 
the  night  is  often  disturbed  by  them.  To  the  sportsman  they  are  most 
annoying,  by  announcing  to  every  other  bird  and  animal  his  approach ; 
to  the  traveller  in  the  country,  they  may  possibly,  as  Molina  says,  do  good, 
by  warning  him  of  the  midnight  robber.  During  the  breeding  season, 
they  attempt,  like  our  peewits  by  feigning  to  be  wounded,  to  draw  away 
from  their  nests  dogs  and  other  enemies.  Their  eggs  are  of  a  pointed 
oval  form ;  of  a  brownish  olive  colour,  thickly  spotted  with  dark  brown. 
Their  eggs,  like  those  of  the  peewit,  are  esteemed  particularly  good 
eating."  (Darwin,  Zoology  of  the  Voyage  of  H.M.S.  "Beagle,"  III,  p. 
127,  1841.) 

"A  common  bird  throughout  the  plains,  especially  near  the  coast  and 
about  the  lagoons.  Very  noisy,  especially  at  night  or  when  molested  at 
any  time.  But  at  night  it  seems  to  delight  in  making  a  racket  through 
sheer  wantonness."  (J.  B.  Hatcher  in  manuscript  notes.) 

722,  male,  Elizabeth  Island. 

"Eyes  pink,  legs  pink,  bill  black  at  tip,  pink  at  base." 

"The  characters  given  by  Mr.  Harting  to  separate  the  western  form  from 
V.  cayennensis  are  slight,  but,  we  think,  on  the  whole,  sufficient  to  justify 
the  employment  of  his  name."  (Sclater  &  Salvin,  on  Birds  Antarctic 
America,  Voyage  H.M.S.  "Challenger,"  No.  IX,  p.  357,  1878.) 

"  Peckett  Harbour,  January  4,  1879.    • 

"Male:  Talcahuano,  Chili,  September  22,  1879.  Iris,  pupil  dark  red ; 
bill  lilac,  with  black  tips;  eyelids  lilac;  legs  rose-colour,  with  grey  feet." 
(Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.,  1881,  p.  14.) 

"Male.     Rio  Lujan,  Buenos  Aires,  Arg.  Rep.,  March  7,  1881. 

"Female.     Salto,  Buenos  Aires,  Arg.  Rep.,  Oct.  18,  1881. 

"Iris  crimson. 

"This  Plover,  whose  native  name  is  'Teru-Tero,'  is  very  common  all 
over  the  camps  of  the  province  of  Buenos  Aires,  but  at  the  same  time 
found  throughout  the  Republic ;  and  in  the  breeding-season,  which  is  now 
(October)  at  its  height,  annoys  the  sportsman  by  its  shrill  screeching  cry, 
by  circling  round  his  head,  and  by  shamming  wounded,  in  order  to  at- 
tract his  attention.  Its  nest  is  carefully  concealed  in  the  grass,  and  con- 
sists of  a  mere  shallow  hollow;  but  it  may  be  easily  discovered  when 
sheep  are  driven  over  the  land,  as  then  the  bird  may  be  seen  standing  in 


284  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 

front  of  its  nest,  and  flapping  its  wings  violently  to  make  the  bands  part 
and  pass  on  either  side.  The  clutch  consists  of  three  eggs ;  and  a  re- 
markable circumstance  in  connection  with  them  is,  that  when  they  become 
heavy  with  young  all  their  points  are  directed  inwards  to  a  common 
centre. 

"The  eggs,  of  a  very  elongated  pear-shaped  form,  have  a  ground  of  a 
warm  stone-colour,  sprinkled  over  with  jet-black  spots,  which  cluster  most 
thickly  round  the  blunt  end. 

"  Meas. :  axis  50  mill.,  diam.  36  mill. 

"The  eggs  form  a  favourite  dish  with  the  natives,  and  are  very  deli- 
cate." (E.  W.  White,  P.  Z.  S.,  pp.  627-628,  1882.) 

"A  stranger  performance  is  that  of  the  spur-winged  lapwing  of  the  same 
region  —  a  species  resembling  the  lapwing  of  Europe,  but  a  third  larger, 
brighter  coloured,  and  armed  with  spurs.  The  lapwing  display,  called  by 
the  natives  its  "dance"  or  "serious  dance"  —  by  which  they  mean  square 
dance"  —  requires  three  birds  for  its  performance,  and  is,  so  far  as  I  know, 
unique  in  this  respect.  The  birds  are  so  fond  of  it  that  they  indulge  in  it 
all  the  year  round,  and  at  frequent  intervals  during  the  day,  also  on  moon- 
light nights.  If  a  person  watches  any  two  birds  for  some  time  —  for  they 
live  in  pairs  —  he  will  see  another  lapwing,  one  of  a  neighbouring  couple, 
rise  up  and  fly  to  them,  leaving  his  own  mate  to  guard  their  chosen 
ground ;  and  instead  of  resenting  this  visit  as  an  unwarranted  intrusion 
on  their  domain,  as  they  would  certainly  resent  the  approach  of  almost  any 
other  bird,  they  welcome  it  with  notes  and  signs  of  pleasure.  Advancing 
to  the  visitor,  they  place  themselves  behind  it;  then  all  three,  keeping 
step,  begin  a  rapid  march,  uttering  resonant  drumming  notes  in  time  with 
their  movements ;  the  notes  of  the  pair  behind  being  emitted  in  a  stream, 
like  a  drum-roll,  while  the  leader  utters  loud  single  notes  at  regular  in- 
tervals. The  march  ceases ;  the  leader  elevates  his  wings  and  stands 
erect  and  motionless,  still  uttering  loud  notes ;  while  the  other  two,  with 
puffed-out  plumage  and  standing  exactly  abreast,  stoop  forward  and  down- 
ward until  the  tips  of  their  beaks  touch  the  ground,  and,  sinking  their 
rhythmical  voices  to  a  murmur,  remain  for  some  time  in  this  posture. 
The  performance  is  then  over  and  the  visitor  goes  back  to  his  own 
ground  and  mate,  to  receive  a  visitor  himself  later  on."  (Huds.  Natur. 
La  Plata,  1892,  pp.  269-270.) 

"Resident  and  common;  abundant  on  some  camps.     They  mob  the 


AVES CHARADRIID/E  285 

unfortunate  human  being  on  all  occasions,  whether  in  the  breeding-season 
or  not.  Sportsmen  hate  them  most  heartily,  as  it  is  well-nigh  impossible 
to  stalk  anything  if  there  are  any  '  Teru-Terus '  about.  Apart  from  this, 
the  harsh  ear-piercing  cries  become  most  wearisome  and  even  distressing 
after  a  time  when  you  are  passing  over  ground  where  there  are  many  of 
these  beautiful  birds.  Even  in  autumn  I  have  had  a  bird  dash  at  me  time 
after  time  as  I  rode  along  and  come  so  close  that  I  struck  at  it  with  my 
'revenque'  (the  short  cow-hide  whip  one  invariably  carries).  The  eggs, 
which  are  fully  as  hard  to  find  as  our  Peewit's,  are  laid  on  the  open  camp, 
and  the  breeding-habits  seem  very  similar  to  those  of  our  bird.  For 
instance,  Mr.  Burgess  rode  suddenly  on  to  a  pair  (nth  November),  and, 
disregarding  the  wing-trailing  business  of  the  male,  saw  the  female  stand- 
ing up  over  a  single  fresh  egg,  doubtless  waiting  for  a  good  oppor- 
tunity to  slip  quietly  away.  The  peones  say  that  when  a  pair  find  their 
eggs  in  danger  from  a  flock  of  sheep  coming  in  their  direction  they  remain 
over  the  eggs,  making  violent  demonstrations,  and  that  the  sheep  open 
out  when  they  come  to  them  and  close  up  again  when  they  get  past.  In 
the  early  part  of  January,  when  the  young  were  on  the  wing,  they  went 
in  flocks.  A  young  one  shot  on  the  9th  had  colour  of  soft  parts  very 
dull,  and  wing-spur  very  little  developed,  or  about  0.2  inch  long.  Later 
in  the  year  the  flocks  broke  up  again,  although  little  parties  of  half  a 
dozen  or  so  might  be  seen  together.  They  were  breeding  in  November : 
nth,  one  fresh  egg;  i8th,  four  hard-set;  last  days  of  the  month,  four 
fresh.  At  Sta.  Florencia  in  mid-December,  a  little  flock  frequented  the 
chacra  and  used  to  go  through  the  strangest  antics ;  they  went  about  in 
threes  a  good  deal  and  did  much  bowing  and  aimless  running  about." 
(O.  V.  Alpin,  on  Birds  Uruguay,  Ibis,  pp.  205-206,  1894.) 

The  British  Museum  has  received  numerous  specimens  of  Belanoptems 
chilensis  from  Lake  Blanco,  Chubut,  collected  during  the  months  of  Sep- 
tember and  October  by  J.  Koslowsky. 


Genus  ZONIBYX  Reichenbach. 

Type. 

Zonibyx,  Reichenb.  Av.  Syst.  Nat,  p.  XVIII  (1852); 
Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  238  (1896); 
Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  153  (1899);  .  .  .  .  Z.  modesta. 


286  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY 

Geographical  Range.  —  South  America,  from  Tierra  del  Fuego  north- 
ward; on  the  Atlantic  coast  to  Buenos  Aires,  Argentine  Republic;  on 
the  Pacific  coast  to  Tarapaca,  Peru.  The  Falkland  Islands. 


ZONIBYX  MODESTUS  (Lichtenstein). 

Charadrius  modestus,  Licht.  Verz.  Doubl.  p.    71    (1823:    Montevideo); 

Seebohm.   Geogr.    Distr.  Charadr.   p.    105  (1888:  Santa  Lucia,   La 

Plata). 

Tringa  urvillii,  Garn.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  VII.  p.  26  (1826). 
Vanellus  cincta,  Less.  Voy.  Coq.  Zool.  I.  p.  126,  pi.  43  (1826). 
Charadrius  nebulosus,  Less.  Man.  d'Orn.  II.  p.  315  (1828). 
Charadrius  rubecula,   King,   Zool.  Journ.   IV.   p.   96   (1829:    Straits  of 

Magellan);  Seebohm,  Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  pi.  i  (1888). 
Squatarola  mbecula,  Jard.  &  Selb.  111.  Orn.  II.  pi.  no  (1830). 
Squatarola  cincta,  Darwin,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p.  126  (1841  :  Tierra  del 

Fuego;  Falkland  Is.;  Island  of  Chiloe) ;  Gould,  P.  Z.  S.   1859,  p. 

195  (Falkland  Is.,  eggs  described). 

Squatarola  fusca,  Gould,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p.  126  (1841  :  Maldonado). 
Squatarola  urvillii,  Fraser,  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  p.  118  (Chili);  Des  Murs  in 

Gay's  Hist.    Chil.  Zool.   I.  p.  401    (1847);  Hartl.   Naum.  1853,    pp. 

215,  221  (Chili). 
Squatarola  modesta,  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  543  (1847);  Licht.   Nomencl. 

Av.  Mus.  Berol.  p.  95  (1854:  Montevideo). 
Zonibyx  cincta,  Reichenb.  Av.  Syst.  Nat.  p.  xviii  (1852). 
Hiaticula  fusca,  Cass.  U.  S.  Expl.  Exped.  p.  328  (1858:  Tierra  del  Fuego). 
Eudromias  urvillii,  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.    1860,  p.  386  (Falkland  Is.);   Abbott, 

Ibis,  1861,  p.  155  (Falkland  Is.,  Sept.  to  April,  breeds  in  October). 
Vanellus  modestus,  Burm.  La  Plata  Reise,  II.  p.  502  (1861  :  Pampas;  Rio 

Quarto) ;  C.  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part  X.  p.  246 

(1888:  Patagonia  and  Tierra  del  Fuego);  Carbajal,  La  Patagonia, 

part  II.  p.  276  (1900). 
Morinellus  modestus,  Schl.  Mus.  Pays  Bas,  IV.  Cursores,  p.  48  (1865: 

Port  Famine,  Patagonia;  Falkland  Is.). 
Eudromias  modesta,  Scl.  &  Salv.  Ibis,  1868,  p.  188  (Sandy  Point,  Dec.; 

Peckett  Harbour,  Jan.);  iid.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  144  (Conchitas,  winter 

visitor) ;  Harting,  Ibis,  1870,  p.  202 ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  t.  c.  p.  500  (Sandy 


AVES CHARADRIID.-E 


287 


Point,  March);  iid.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  143  (1873:  Patagonia 
and  Falkland  Is.);  Durnf.  Ibis,  1876,  p.  164  (Flores  Island,  March), 
1877,  p.  197  (Buenos  Aires,  autumn  and  winter  visitor)  ;  1878,  p. 
402  (Chupat  Valley,  April);  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  438 
(Gray  Harbour;  Tom  Harbour;  Puerto  Bueno ;  Port  Famine; 
Falkland  Is.);  iid.  Voy.  Chall.  II.  Birds,  p.  109  (1881);  Sharpe,  P. 
Z.  S.  1 88 1,  p.  15  (Tom  Bay,  Feb.;  Puerto  del  Morro,  Feb.;  Port 
Henry,  Jan.;  Cockle  Cove,  Oct.);  Doering,  Expl.  al  Rio  Negro, 
Zool.  p.  56  (1882:  Choelechoel) ;  Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  313  (1884: 
Concepcion,  April  a-nd  May) ;  Withington,  Ibis,  1888,  p.  472  (Lomas 
de  Zamora,  abundant) ;  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  171  (1889) ; 
Holland,  Ibis,  1891,  pp.  16,  19  (Argent.  Rep.  fairly  common),  1892, 
p.  210  (Estancia  Espartilla,  March  to  Aug.);  James,  New  List  Chil. 
B.  p.  1 1  (1892),  Alpin,  Ibis,  1894,  p.  206  (Uruguay,  winter);  Lane, 
Ibis,  1897,  P-  3°3  (Arauco,  Aug.)  ;  Nicoll,  Ibis,  1904,  p.  46  (Port 
Gallant);  Crawshay,  B.  Tierra  del  Fuego,  p.  118  (1907);  Cheena 
Creek  Settlement,  Nov.  17,  1904. 
Squatarola  durvillii,  Martens,  J.  f.  O.  1875,  p.  440  (Chili).  . 

FIG.  151. 


Zonibyx  modestus.     Adult  male.     P.  U.  O.  C.  7783.     Natural  size. 

Zonibyx  modesta,  Ridgw.  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  XII.  p.  137  (1889:  Port 
Otway);  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  238  (1896:  Chupat, 


288  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY 

Patagonia,  April);  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  666  (1898: 
Uschuwaria-canal,  Tierra  del  Fuego,  March  ;  Port  Stanley,  Falkland 
Is.,  May,  common);  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX,  p.  624  (1900  : 
Penguin  Rookery,  Feb.;  Punta  Arenas,  May  and  June);  Martens, 
Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  p.  14  (1900:  Falkland  Islands). 

Charadritts  (Eudromias)  modestus.  Oust.  Miss.  Scient.  Cap  Horn, 
Oiseaux,  p.  1 1 1  (1891). 

Zonibyx  modestus,  Gates,  Cat.  Bds.  Eggs  Brit.  Mus.  II.  p.  21  (1902); 
Sharpe,  Hand-list  B.  I.  p.  153  (1899). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  male.  Summer  plumage.  (P.  U.  O.  C.  7783.  Near  Mt. 
Tigre,  Patagonia,  23  August,  1896.  J.  B.  Hatcher.)  Total  length,  about 
8  inches. 

Wing,  5.8  inches. 

Culmen,  0.75  inch. 

Tail,  2.7  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.3  inches. 

The  adult  female  is  a  little  larger  than  the  adult  male. 

Color. — Adult  male  (cited).  General  color  above  glossy  snuff  brown, 
darker  on  the  rump  ;  below  slate  grey  on  chin  and  throat,  then  a  broad 
area  of  cinnamon  chestnut,  followed  by  a  pectoral  black  band,  the  rest  of 
the  lower  surface  being  white. 

Head :  The  lores,  base  of  forehead  and  sides  of  face  below  the  eyes 
slaty  grey.  A  broad  frontal  band  continued  into  an  eyebrow  and  extend- 
ing to  the  occiput,  white.  Crown  rich  snuff  brown,  darkest  where  it  is 
sharply  defined  against  the  white  frontal  band  and  eyebrows. 

Neck :  Above  and  on  the  sides  snuff  brown.  Below  pale  ashy  grey  in- 
clining to  whitish  ;  this  shades  into  fine  slate  grey  on  the  throat,  the  whole 
confluent  to  the  sides  of  the  face.  Forehead  and  lores  as  described.  Lower 
throat  bright  orange  or  cinnamon  chestnut. 

Back :  Rich  glossy  snuff  brown  darkening  on  the  rump  and  upper  tail 
coverts. 

Tail :  Central  rectrices  deep  snuff  brown  inclining  to  umber.  The  outer 
rectrices  pure  white.  The  next  to  the  outer  pair  chiefly  white,  with  two 
black  bars  on  their  inner  webs  toward  the  tip  of  the  feather.  The  third 
outer  pair  of  rectrices  chiefly  brown  with  white  tips.  The  remainder  of  the 


AVES CHARADRIID/E  289 

rectrices  wholly  snuff  brown  with  indistinct  fringing  of  lighter  at  the 
tips. 

Wing :  Snuff  brown  in  general  appearance  like  the  back.  Wing  cov- 
erts like  the  back.  Bastard  wing  and  primary  coverts  snuff  brown. 
Quills  snuff  brown  ;  the  exposed  webs  of  the  primaries  darker  and  the 
shafts  of  these  quills  creamy  white.  The  secondaries  much  like  the  pri- 
maries but  without  white  shafts  and  the  innermost  small  ones  tipped  with 
pure  white. 

Lower  parts:  Chin  pale  ashy  grey,  almost  whitish,  shading  into  fine 
slate  grey  on  the  throat ;  this  color  ends  abruptly  on  the  lower  throat,  the 
entire  breast  being  rich  bright  orange  or  cinnamon  chestnut;  this  color 
terminates  abruptly  and  is  outlined  by  a  black  pectoral  band  about  three 
quarters  of  an  inch  wide.  The  remainder  of  the  lower  parts  pure  white 
with  obscure  brown  markings  on  some  of  the  lower  tail  coverts.  Thighs 
brown.  Axillaries  and  under  wing-coverts  white,  some  of  the  outer  of 
these  coverts  shading  into  ashy  brown.  Quills  from  below  ashy  brown. 

Bill  "black"  (H.  Burmeister). 

Feet  and  legs  "greenish  grey"  (H.  Burmeister). 

Iris  "  dark  brown  "  (J.  B.  Hatcher). 

The  adult  female  is  colored  like  the  adult  male. 

FIG.  152. 


Zonibyx  modestus.     Head  of  adult  in  winter.     P.  U.  O.  C.  7792.     Female.     Natural  size. 

Adults  in  Winter  Plumage.  —  (Female  adult  P.  U.  O.  C.  7792,  Cape 
Fairweather,  Patagonia,  29  July,  1896,}.  B.  Hatcher.) 

Similar  above  to  adults  in  summer,  the  feathers  a  little  darker  and  many 
of  them  with  a  narrow  buffy  fringing.  Lower  parts.  The  throat  white. 
Lower  throat,  fore  neck,  breast,  and  chest  light  snuff  brown,  each  feather 
narrowly  margined  with  buffy  white,  giving  a  sandy  appearance  to  the 


290  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 

whole.  Back  of  this,  the  black  pectoral  band  is  indicated,  each  black  feather 
tipped  with  ashy  white.  Rest  of  the  lower  parts  as  in  summer  adults. 
The  forehead  is  dull  slate  grey,  which  color  extends  to  below  the  eyes  on 
the  fore  part  of  the  face,  fading,  into  grayish  snuff  brown.  The  white  fore- 
head band  and  the  white  eyebrow  streak  indicated.  Tail  like  that  of 
adult  in  summer. 

FIG.   153. 


Zonibyx  modestus.     Head  of  young  of  the  year.     P.  U.  O.  C.  7793.     Female.     Natural  size. 

Young  of  the  year.  —  (Male,  P.  U.  O.  C.  7978,  Arroyo  Gio,  Patagonia, 
9  April,  1898,  A.  E.  Colburn.) 

Much  darker  above  than  adults  in  winter  and  with  conspicuous  buffy 
white  margins  to  the  feathers,  especially  on  the  shoulders  and  greater 
coverts  as  well  as  on  the  back. 

Below,  much  like  adults  in  winter,  but  the  chest  patch  much  more  sandy 
and  the  pectoral  black  band  almost  obsolete.  The  whole  head  more  buffy, 
especially  on  the  forehead.  The  white  forehead  band  not  indicated,  but 
the  eyebrow  appearing  above  the  eye  and  extending  back  as  in  adults  and 
of  a  creamy  buff  color. 

Geographical  Range. — The  Falkland  Islands.  Southern  South  Amer- 
ica from  Tierra  del  Fuego  north  to  Buenos  Aires,  Argentine  Republic, 
on  the  Atlantic  coast ;  and  to  Tarapaca,  Peru,  on  the  Pacific  coast. 

The  series  of  this  plover  obtained  by  the  naturalists  of  the  Princeton 
University  Expeditions  are  cited  below.  The  birds  appear  to  be  chiefly 
maritime  and  fairly  common.  They  present  a  wide  difference  in  appear- 
ance at  the  two  extremes  of  the  year,  and  immature  birds  look  very  much 
like  the  adults  during  the  winter  season.  From  Darwin's  account  are  cited 
the  following  notes  as  of  interest.  Under  the  heading  of  Squatarola  cincta 
(op.  cit,  contra)  referring  to  this  bird,  he  writes  as  follows: 


AVES CHARADRIID^E 


291 


"I  obtained  specimens  of  this  bird  in  Tierra  del  Fuego,  where  it  in- 
habited both  the  seashore,  and  the  bare  stony  summits  of  the  mountains ; 
at  the  Falkland  Islands,  where  it  frequented  the  upland  marshes ;  and  at 
Chiloe,  where  I  met  with  large  flocks  in. the  .fields,  not  near  the  coast." 


P.  U.  O.  C. 

Sex. 

Date. 

Locality. 

Collector. 

7783 

7784 
7792 

7793 
7978 

Male. 
Male. 
Female. 
Female. 
Male,  im. 

23  August,  1896. 
23  August,  1896. 
29  July,  1896. 
29  July,  1896. 
9  April,  1896. 

Near  Mt.  Tigre,  Patagonia. 
Near  Mt.  Tigre,  Patagonia. 
Cape  Fairweather,  Patagonia. 
Cape  Fairweather,  Patagonia. 
Arroyo  Eke,  Patagonia. 

A.  E.  Colburn. 

Gould  referred  the  winter  adults  to  a  new  form,  which  he  described  as 
Squatarola  fusca  (op.  cit,  p.  126)  and  Darwin,  evidently  agreeing,  still 
concluded  that  the  relationship  was  apparent ;  he  writes : 

"This  species  is  most  closely  allied  to  the  foregoing.  I  obtained  only 
one  specimen,  which,  on  comparison  with  several  S.  cincta,  appears  a  little 
larger  in  all  its  dimensions,  especially  in  the  length  of  the  tarsi.  Its  back 
and  scapularies  are  of  a  more  uniform  brown,  the  feathers  being  less  edged 
with  pale  brown.  Its  feet  are  black,  whereas  those  of  S.  cincta  are  brown." 
(Gould,  Voyage  of  H.  M.  S.  Beagle  —  Birds,  p.  126-127.) 

646,  female,  Gray  Harbour. 

"Eyes  brown;  stomach  had  insects." 

660,  female,  Tom  Harbour. 

"Eyes  black  ;  stomach  had  insects." 

673,  male,  Puerto  Bueno. 

"Eyes  brown  ;  stomach  had  seeds  and  sand." 

690,  male,  Port  Famine. 

"Eyes  brown;  stomach  had  sand." 

728,  male,  Falkland  Islands. 

"Eyes  brown;  stomach  had  sandy  particles  &c." 

(Sclater  &  Salvin,  on  Birds  Antarctic  America,  Voy.  H.  M.  S.  "Chall." 
—  No.  IX.  p.  438,  1878.) 

"Ad.:  Tom  Bay,  February  1879. 

"Male  juv.:  Puerto  del  Morro,  February  5,  1879. 

"Male  juv.:  Port  Henry,  January  28,  1879.  Eyes  black;  legs  grey; 
bill  horn-colour. 

"Male:  Cockle  Cove,  October  16,  1879.  Iris  dark  brown;  bill  dark; 
legs  light  grey."  (Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  15.) 


292  PATAGONIAN  EXPEDITIONS  I  ZOOLOGY 

This  plover  visits  the  Falkland  Islands  during  the  Patagonian  summer 
and  breeds  in  that  locality,  retiring  again  in  the  colder  season  to  the  main- 
land presumably.  From  this  point  Abbott  wrote  of  this  bird,  which  is 
locally  known  as  the  "Dotterel":  "It  may  safely  be  said  that  this  is  a  mi- 
gratory bird  in  East  Falkland.  The  dotterel  first  appears  in  the  beginning 
of  September,  when  the  dry  peat  banks  in  all  parts  of  the  island  are 
covered  with  them.  Their  breast  plumage  is  then  of  a  beautiful  red. 
They  lay  the  first  week  of  October  (as  appears  from  my  note  book)  placing 
their  eggs  which  are  two  in  number  on  the  dry  moss,  without  making  any 
nest.  The  eggs  are  so  nearly  the  colour  of  the  surrounding  ground,  that 
one  almost  treads  on  them  before  seeing  them.  I  have  sometimes  how- 
ever found  their  eggs  placed  under  a  bush.  After  the  breeding  season 
the  bright  colour  on  the  breast  fades  away.  In  the  month  »of  February 
they  commence  to  gather  in  flocks  along  the  coast,  and  by  the  end  of 
April  disappear  entirely  and  do  not  return  until  the  end  of  August  or  the 
beginning  of  September  of  the  following  year.  I  have  observed  that  these 
birds  always  leave  their  eggs  when  anyone  approaches  and  walk  away  call- 
ing all  the  time.  Of  an  afternoon,  however,  I  have  disturbed  them  off  their 
nests;  they  appear  then  to  set  more  closely."  (Abbott,  Ibis,  1861  p.  155.) 

"Breeds  in  South  Patagonia  and  visits  Uruguay  for  the  winter.  Rid- 
ing over  to  a  neighboring  estancia  with  a  friend  on  the  evening  of  the 
29th  March,  and  unfortunately  without  a  single  cartridge,  having  a  supply 
at  the  house  I  was  going  to,  I  got  quite  close  to  a  flock  of  these  little 
plovers  in  winter  dress.  When  put  up  they  wheeled  and  turned  just  like 
small  golden  plovers.  My  friend  knew  them,  and  had  seen  them  when 
they  had  the  dark  breast-band.  They  did  not  stay  and  I  could  not  find 
them  again."  (O.  V.  Alpin,  on  Birds  Uruguay,  Ibis,  p.  206,  1894.) 

"  Port  Gallant,  Feb.  3,  1903.     Iris  black. 

"I  saw  a  small  flock  of  these  Dotterels  at  Port  Gallant  anchorage.  All 
of  them  appeared  to  be  immature.  The  two  examples  that  I  obtained 
had  the  nape  of  the  neck  covered  with  down.  Their  note  was  a  shrill 
whistle."  (M.  J.  Nicoll,  Orn.  Journ.  Voy.  Round  World,  Ibis,  Jan.,  1904, 
P-  46.)  .  .. 

Genus  ^EGIALITIS  Boie. 

Type. 

itis,  Boie,  Isis,  1822,  p.  553  ;  Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds. 
Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  254  (1896)  ;  id.,  Hand-list 
Bds.  I.  p.  154  (1899) Ai.  hiaticola. 


AVES  -  CHARADRIID/E  293 

Leucopolius,  Bp.  C.  R.  XLIII.  p.  417  (1856).     .     .     .     Ai.  marginata. 
Aigialophihis  Gould,   Handb.  Bds.  Austr.  II.  p.  234 

(1865)  ......     .     .     .     .     ......     s£.  alexandrina. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Almost  cosmopolitan. 


FALKLANDICA  (Latham). 

Rusty-crowned  Plover,  Portlock,  Voy.  t.  p.  36  teste  Latham  infra. 

Charadrius  falklandicus,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  II.  p.  747  (1790:  Falkland 
Islands);  Schl.  Mus.  Pays  Bas,  IV.  Cursores,  p.  36  (1865:  Falkland 
Is.;  Algarobo,  Chili);  Seebohm,  Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.  155 
(1888)  ;  Carbajal,  La  Patagonia,  part  II.  p.  276  (1900). 

Charadrius  trifasciatus,  Licht.  Verz.  Doubl.  p.  71  (1823:  Montevideo); 
Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part  X.  p.  246  (1888: 
Northern  Patagonia). 

Charadrius  pyrocephalus,  Garn.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  VII.  p.  46  (1826:  Falk- 
land Islands).  Less.  Voy.  Coq.  Zool.  I.  p.  719  (1826). 

Charadriiis  annuligenis,  Wagl.  Syst.  Av.  Charadrius  sp.  13,  p.  59  (1827). 

Hiaticula  trifasciatus,  Darwin,  Voy.  "Beagle,"  Birds,'  p.  127  (1841  :  Bahia 
Blanca,  Northern  Patagonia). 

Hiaticola  bifasciata,  Fraser,  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  p.  118  (Chili,  shores  and  mar- 
gins of  lakes). 

Hiaticula  falklandica,  Gray,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  part  III.  p.  71  (1844: 
Falkland  Islands). 

Hiaticula  trifasciata,  Licht.  Nomencl.  Av.  Mus.  Berol.  p.  94  (1854: 
Montevideo). 

Aigialitis  falklandica,  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  386  (St.  Lewis,  E.  Falklands  ; 
Uranie  Bay);  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  155  (Falkland  Islands,  arrives 
in  Sept.,  breeds  in  Oct.);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Ibis,  1868,  p.  188  (Sandy 
Point,  Dec.;  Gregory  Bay,  May);  iid.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  144  (Con- 
chitas)  ;  Huds.  P.  Z.  S.  1872,  p.  549  (Rio  Negro,  Patagonia)  ;  Scl. 
&  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  143  (1873)  ;  Harting,  P.  Z.  S.  1874, 
p.  457,  pi.  IX.  fig.  6,  egg;  Durnf.  Ibis,  1878,  p.  402  (Chupat  Valley, 
Lake  Colguape,  Sengel  river,  resident,  breeds  in  Sept.)  ;  Gibson, 
Ibis,  1880,  p.  163  (Cape  San  Antonio,  common,  breeds  in  Aug.  and 
Sept.);  Doering,  Expl.  al  Rio  Negro,  Zool.  p.  56  (1882:  Carhue, 
Puan,  Sutmas,  Chicas)  ;  Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  313  (1884:  Concepcion, 


294  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 

April);  Berl.  J.  f.  O.  1887,  P-  *34  (Paraguay);  Scl.  &  Huds.  Ar- 
gent. Orn.  II.  p.  172  (1889);  Ridgw.  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  XII.  p. 
136  (1889:  Laredo  Bay);  Holland,  Ibis,  1891,  pp.  16,  19  (Arg. 
Rep.,  April,  fairly  common) ;  James,  New  List,  Chil.  B.  p.  1 1  (1892); 
Holland,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  210  (Estancia  Espartilla,  March  to  Sept.), 
1893,  p.  468  (migrant  from  Patagonia);  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus. 
XXIV.  p.  295  (1896:  Port  St.  Julian,  Patagonia);  Schalow,  Zool. 
Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  665  (1898  :  Punta  Arenas,  Jan.) ;  Sharpe,  Hand- 
list, B.  I.  p.  155  (1899)  ;  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX.  p.  624 
(1900:  Punta  Arenas,  Jan.);  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr. 
Vog.  p!  14  (1900:  Falkland  Islands  and  Patagonia);  Crawshay,  B. 
Tierra  del  Fuego,  p.  120  (1907);  Useless  Bay  Settlement,  August, 
1904. 
f  Chorlo  (Tunga  sp.)  Vincig.  Patag.  p.  26  (1883  :  Santa  Cruz). 

Charadrius  (sEgialitis)  falklandicus,  Oust.  Miss.  Scient.  Cap  Horn, 
Oiseaux,  p.  114  (1891). 

FIG.  154. 


jEgialitis  falklandica.     Adult  male.     P.  U.  O.  7786.     Natural  size. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.  —  Adult  male.     (P.  U.  O.  C.  7785  near  Rio  Coy,   Patagonia,  30 
September,  1896.     J.  B.  Hatcher.)     Total  length,  7.3  inches. 
Wing,  5  inches. 
Culmen,  0.8  inch. 
Tail,  2.0  inches. 
Tarsus,  1.15  inches. 


AVES CHARADRIID^E  295 

The  adult  female  does  not  differ  materially  from  the  adult  male  in 
size. 

Color.  —  Adult  male  (cited).  General  color  above  ashy  brown,  be- 
coming cinnamon  rufous  on  the  neck  and  crown.  Below,  white  crossed  by 
two  black  bands. 

Head :  Forehead  and  region  in  front  of  the  eye  and  sides  of  face 
broadly  white.  A  black  frontal  band  passing  from  eye  to  eye  and  to  the 
region  of  the  ear  coverts  from  below  the  eye.  Back  of  this  black  band 
the  head  is  clear  cinnamon  rufous,  deepest  on  the  occiput,  and  extending 
down  on  the  back  and  sides  of  the  neck. 

Neck :  Back  and  sides  of  neck  bright  cinnamon  rufous,  continuous  with 
the  color  of  the  crown.  Chin  and  throat  white,  continuous  with  the  white 
region  of  the  forehead  and  face.  A  black  band  across  the  fore  neck. 

Back:  Dark  ashy  brown,  including  lower  back,  central  rump  and 
central  upper  tail  coverts.  The  sides  of  the  rump  and  lateral  upper  tail 
coverts  white. 

Tail :  Central  rectrices  dark  ashy  brown.  The  rest  ashy  until  the  three 
outer  ones  ;  outermost  tail  feathers  pure  white,  the  next  chiefly  -white  with 
some  ashy  shading  ;  the  third  clearly  chiefly  light  ashy.  The  three  outer 
rectrices  with  white  shafts. 

Wings :  Upper  wing  coverts  like  the  back,  the  greater  series  narrowly 
fringed  with  white.  The  bastard  and  primary  coverts  blackish.  Primary 
quills  blackish  on  their  exposed  webs,  shading  into  ashy  brown  and  light 
ashy  or  whitish  on  their  inner  webs.  The  shafts  of  the  first  primary  en- 
tirely white.  The  white  portion  of  the  shafts  of  the  succeeding  primaries 
restricted  to  the  subterminal  portion  of  each  quill.  The  bases  of  the  inner 
primaries,  white  on  the  outer  web,  forming  a  speculum.  The  seconda- 
ries are  ashy  brown,  the  outer  ones  being  fringed  with  white  at  their  ends 
and  innermost  ones  colored  like  the  back. 

Lower  Parts :  Entirely  pure  white,  crossed  by  a  narrower  black  band 
on  the  lower  neck  and  by  a  much  broader  black  band  across  the  pectoral 
region.  Under  wing  coverts  and  axillaries  pure  white,  the  outer  series 
mottled  with  ashy  and  the  lower  primary  coverts  chiefly  ashy. 

Bill,  black  (Hatcher). 

Legs  and  feet,  black  (Hatcher). 

Iris,  "Wood-brown"  (Durnford). 

The  adult  female  is  similar  in  marking  to  the  adult  male,  but  the  black 


296  PATAGONIAN  EXPEDITIONS  :  ZOOLOGY 

forehead  and  face  mark  is  not  so  well  denned.  The  rufous  generally  paler 
in  shade  and  washed  with  ashy  grey  on  the  occiput  and  nape. 

An  immature  bird  (P.  U.  O.  C.  No.  7787,  female,  Chebunco,  12  miles 
from  Punta  Arenas,  Straits  of  Magellan,  Patagonia,  10  January,  1898,  A. 
E.  Colburn)  differs  from  adults  chiefly  in  its  much  lighter  ashy  color  above, 
in  the  obscuration  of  the  black  forehead  band  and  ear-stripe  and  in  the 
absence  of  all  cinnamon  rufous,  except  an  irregular  area  of  that  color,  light 
in  shade,  on  either  side  of  the  neck  just  back  of  the  head.  The  crown 
and  back  of  head  and  neck  are  light  ashy  brown  like  the  back. 

A  young  bird  just  having  assumed  the  first phimage  (P.  U.  O.  C.  7788, 
female,  Punta  Arenas,  Straits  of  Magellan,  Patagonia,  A.  E.  Colburn) 
presents  the  following  character. 

Above  the  general  color  is  ashy  grey,  each  feather  conspicuously  fringed 
and  margined  with  sandy  buff.  The  crown  and  upper  neck  like  the  back. 
The  white  forehead  and  loral  region  indicated.  Down  still  showing  about 
throat  and  head.  Wings  and  tail  much  as  in  the  adults,  but  the  wing 
coverts  much  marked  with  sandy  buff  on  their  margins  and  terminally. 

Below  white,  the  two  black  bands  being  indicated  by  ashy  brown  bands, 
which  have  all  the  feathers  fringed  with  sandy  buff. 

Geographical  Range.  —  The  Falkland  Islands,  Patagonia,  Chili  and 
the  Argentine  Republic. 

The  series  of  the  rusty-crowned  or  Falkland  plover  collected  by  the 
naturalists  of  the  Princeton  Expeditions  is  enumerated  in  detail  below. 
In  the  Falkland  Islands  this  plover  is  a  migrant,  coming  to  that  region 
to  breed  and  leaving  for  the  mainland  when  the  winter  season  is  passed. 
It  arrives  in  the  Falklands  during  September  and  breeds  in  October, 
Abbott  speaking  of  the  species  at  that  point.  Gibson  writes  of  this  at 
Cape  San  Antonio,  Buenos  Aires  :  "Common  except  at  times  of  drought. 
It  affects  the  borders  of  marshes  and  lagoons  and  with  the  cinnamon- 
colored  patch  at  the  back  of  its  head  and  the  black-barred  breast,  is  a 
very  noticeable  and  handsome  little  bird. 

"The  latter  half  of  August  and  beginning  of  September  constitute  the 
breeding  season.  Four  nests  which  I  have  taken  were  situated  close  to 
swamps  and  were  only  a  hollow  scraped  in  the  ground  and  more  or  less 
lined  with  dry  grass.  On  one  occasion  the  sitting  bird  remained  at  a 
little  distance  watching  me,  but  the  other  times  it  only  left  the  nest  when 


AVES CHARADRIID^E 


297 


I  was  a  yard  from  it,  and  hobbled  away  with  both  wings  drooping  as  if 
broken,  in  the  most  natural  manner  possible.  The  full  clutch  is  three 
(two  of  the  four  nests  having  that  number).  They  are  pointed  in  shape, 
of  an  olive  ground  color,  with  black  spots  (similar  to  the  Lapwings,  in 
short)  and  average  iH  X  ITS"."  (Gibson,  Ibis,  1880,  p.  163.) 

Abbott,  writing  of  this  bird  at  East  Falkland,  says  :  "  This  plover  is  a 
spring  visitor,  arriving  about  the  beginning  of  September,  and  breeding 
shortly  afterwards,  although  I  have  also  found  a  nest  with  fresh  eggs  in 
it  in  October.  The  eggs,  three  in  number,  are  generally  laid  on  a  bank 
at  a  short  distance  from  the  beach  without  any  nest,  being  merely  deposited 
in  a  hole."  (Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  155.) 

"  Resident  and  frequently  observed  on  the  banks  of  the  Colguape  and 
subsequently  up  the  Sengel. 

"  I  took  fresh  eggs  and  also  young  in  the  down  of  this  species  on  the 
29th  of  September  from  the  shores  of  a  large  brackish  lagoon  near  the 
Chupat  valley.  The  nest  is  a  mere  hollow  scraped  in  the  sand,  and  paved 
with  fragments  of  small  shells.  The  eggs  are  of  a  sandy  ground  color, 
spotted  and  streaked  (chiefly  at  the  larger  end)  with  black.  They  measure 
1.4  X  i  inch."  (Durnford,  Ibis,  1878,  p.  402.) 

The  British  Museum  has  five  males  and  a  single  female  of  this  species 
{A.  falklandica],  all  in  full  adult  plumage,  collected  byj.  Koslowsky,  at 
Lake  Blanco,  Chubut,  in  September,  October  and  November. 


P.  U.  0.  C. 

Sex. 

Date. 

Locality. 

Collector. 

7785 

Male, 
adult. 

30  September,  1896. 

Near  Rio  Coy,  Patagonia. 

J.  B.  Hatcher. 

7786 

Male, 
adult. 

29  October,  1896. 

Near  Rio  Coy,  Patagonia. 

J.  B.  Hatcher. 

7787 
7788 

Female, 
young. 
Female, 
young. 

10  January,  1898. 
10  January,  1898. 

Straits  of  Magellan,  Patagonia 
(12  miles  from  Sandy  Point). 
Straits  of  Magellan,  Patagonia 
(12  miles  from  Sandy  Point). 

A.  E.  Colburn. 
A.  E.  Colburn. 

Genus  PLUVIANELLUS  Jacquemont  &  Pucher. 


Type. 


Phwianellus,  Jacq.  &  Pucher,  Voy.  Pole  Sud.  Zool.  III.  p. 
124  (1853);  Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p. 
303  (1896);  Sharpe  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  155  (1899).  P.  sociabilis. 


Geographical  Range.  —  Peculiar  to  Patagonia. 


298  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 

PLUVIANELLUS  SOCIABILIS  Jacquemont  &  Pucher. 

Pluvianellus  sociabilis,  Jacq.  et  Pucher.  Voy.  Pole  Sud,  Zool.  pi.  30,  fig.  i 
(Jan.  1845)  I  v°l-  HI.  p.  125  (1853:  Straits  of  Magellan)  ;  Sharpe, 
Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  303  (1896:  Patagonia);  id.  Hand-list, 
B.  I.  p.  155  (1899);  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p. 
14  (1900:  Patagonia);  Crawshay,  B.  Tierra  del  Fuego,  p.  121  cum 
tab.  (1907)  :  Useless  Bay  Settlement,  September  16.  November  5, 
1904,  breeding. 

Plumanellus  socialis,  Gray,  Gen.  B.  III.  p.  549,  pi.  147,  fig.  3  (1846). 

Strepsilas  sociabilis,  Giebel,  Thes.  Orn.  III.  p.  541  (1877). 

Charadrius  sociabilis,  Seebohm,  Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.  107,  pi.  ii 
(1888:  Tova  Harbour,  Patagonia  in  lat.  45°  S.). 

FIG.  155. 


Pluvianellus  sociabilis.     Adult  male.     P.  U.  O.  C.  7791.     Nearly  natural  size. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  male.  (P.  U.  O.  C.  7791,  near  Rio  Coy,  Patagonia,  30 
September,  1896.  J.  B.  Hatcher.)  Total  length,  about  8.3  inches. 

Wing,  5.6  inches. 

Culmen,  0.7  inch. 

Tail,  2.45  inches. 

Tarsus,  0.75  inch. 

Color.  —  Adult  male  (cited).  General  color,  above  grayish  dove  color; 
below  white,  the  grayish  dove  color  appearing  as  a  broad  undefined  band 
across  the  breast. 

Head :  Crown  and  occiput  grayish  dove  color  shading  into  whitish  on 
the  forehead  and  sides  of  the  face.  A  dusky  line  in  front  of  the  eye  ex- 
tending to  the  bill.  The  region  of  ears  shaded  darker  grayish  dove  color. 

Neck :  Above  like  crown.     Below  almost  white  on  the  chin  and  throat, 


AVES CHARADRIID^E  299 

the  lower  fore-neck  being  occupied  by  the  anterior  portion  of  the  brown- 
ish grey  pectoral  band. 

Back:  Greyish  dove  color,  shading  into  deeper  greyish  brown  on  the 
median  upper  tail  coverts,  the  lateral  upper  tail  coverts  being  white. 

Tail :  Central  rectrices  dark  blackish  brown,  with  conspicuous  broad 
white  margins  to  the  outer  webs,  decreasing  to  disappearance  at  the  ter- 
minal ends  of  the  vanes,  the  inner  vanes  bordered  with  a  hair  line  of 
white.  The  next  pair  with  white  preponderating  on  the  outer  vanes,  and 
a  hair  line  of  white  on  the  inner  vanes.  The  rest  of  the  rectrices  chiefly 
white  on  both  vanes,  and  dusted  or  shaded  slightly  on  the  outer  vanes 
with  smoky  brown. 

Wings :  Coverts  like  the  back,  greyish  dove  color,  the  greater  series 
tipped  with  white  forming  a  wing  bar.  Bastard  wing  and  primary  coverts 
blackish  brown,  the  inner  primary  coverts  being  tipped  with  white.  Pri- 
mary quills  blackish  brown  on  their  exposed  surfaces,  shading  into  pale 
greyish  on  their  inner  webs.  The  inner  primaries  shading  into  whitish  on 
a  portion  of  their  outer  webs.  All  the  primary  quills  with  subterminal 
white  shafts,  which  extend  well  down  on  the  feathers.  Secondaries  white 
at  their  bases,  becoming  brown  near  the  terminal  portion  of  the  outer  webs, 
this  shading  decreasing  in  area  on  each  feather,  till  inner  ones  are  quite 
white.  The  innermost  long  secondaries  concolor  with  the  back. 

Lower  parts  :  Chiefly  white  ;  a  broad  light  smoky  brown  band  occupy- 
ing the  region  of  the  lower  fore-neck  and  breast.  Under  wing  coverts 
and  axillaries  white.  Under  tail  coverts  white,  shaded  irregularly  with 
smoky  brown. 

Bill,  black  (Hatcher). 

Feet  and  legs,  pale  orange  yellow. 

Iris,  "pink"  (J.  Young). 

Geographical  Range.  —  Patagonia. 

The  naturalists  of  the  Princeton  Expeditions  procured  a  single  individ- 
ual of  this  apparently  rare  plover,  which  is  cited  in  detail  below.  But 
one  other  individual,  the  skin  of  an  adult,  without  sex  data,  is  in  the 
collections  of  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History.  It  is  not  differ- 
ent from  the  one  here  described,  save  that  it  measures  a  little  smaller  in 
size.  Little  seems  to  have  been  observed  or  recorded  of  the  life  his- 


300  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 

tory  of  these  birds.      Cf.  Crawshay,  Birds  of  Tierra  del  Fuego,  p.    121 
(1907). 


Cond. 

P.  U.  O.  C.  No. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

Skin. 

779'- 

Adult  Male. 

Near  Rio  Coy,  Patagonia. 

30  September,  1896. 

J.  B.  Hatcher. 

Subfamily   TOTANIN^E. 

Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.   Brit.  Mus.   XXIV.  p.  337  (1896);  Sharpe,  Hand-List 
Bds.  I.  p.  157  (1899). 

Genus  NUMENIUS  Brisson. 

Type. 

Numentus,  Briss.  Orn.  V.  p.  311  (1760);  Sharpe,  Cat. 
Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  340  (1896);  Sharpe,  Hand- 
list Bds.  I.  p.  157  (1899)  .  .  .  .  .  .  N.  arquatiis. 

Phceopus,  Cuv.  Regne  An.  I.  p.  485  (1817)       .         .         .     N.  phaopus. 

Cracticornis,  Gray,  List  Gen.  Bds.  p.  88  ( 1 84 1 )          .         .     N.  arquatus. 

Geographical  Range.  — Almost  cosmopolitan. 

NUMENIUS  BOREALIS  Latham. 

Scolopax  borealis,  Forst.  Phil.  Trans.  LXII.  pp.  411,  431    (1772). 
Numenius  borealis,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  II.  p.  712  (1790)  ;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867, 

P-  333  (Chili);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.   Neotr.  p.    146  (1873); 

Durnf.  Ibis,   1878,  p.  404  (Chupat  Valley,  Oct.)  ;  Barrows,  Auk.  I. 

p.  316  (1884  :  Concepcion,  Sept.  :  Bahia  Blanca,  Feb.,  none  seen  after 

March  ist)  ;    Seebohm,  Geog.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.  333  (1888);  Scl. 

&  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.   192  (1889);  Oust.  Miss.  Scient.  Cap 

Horn,  Oiseaux,  p.  290  (1891) ;  James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  12  (1892) ; 

Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  368  (1896)  ;  id.  Hand-list  B.  I.  p. 

158  (1899)  I  Martens,  Hamb.   Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  14  (1900: 

Patagonia  and  Falkland  Islands). 
Numenius  brevirostris,  Licht.  Verz.  Doubl.  p.   75  (1823:  Montevideo); 

Gould,  Voy.  'Beagle'  Birds,  p.  129  (1841  :  Buenos  Aires)  ;  Abbott, 

Ibis,  1 86 1,  p.  156  (Falkland  Islands)  ;  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos 

Aires,  III.  part  X.  p.  246  (1888:  Falkland  Is.). 


AVES CH  ARADRIID^E 


301 


129 


Numenms  microhynchus,  Phil.   &  Landb.  Arch,  fur  Nat.    1866,   p 
(Chili)  ;  iid.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  35  (1868  :  Island  of  Chiloe). 

Eskimo  Curlew,  Cooke,  Science,  N.  S.,  XXX.  No.  780,  p.  856  (Dec.  1909; 
extinction). 

FIG.  156. 


Numenius  borealis.     Adult  male.     P.  U.  O.  C.  8625.     Two  thirds  natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.  —Adult  Male.  (P.  U.  O.  C.  8625,  Kendall  County,  Texas,  U.  S.  A. 
9  March,  1880,  N.  C.  Brown). 

Total  Length,  13  inches. 

Wing,  8.2  inches. 

Culmen,  2.05  inches. 

Tail,  3.1  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.8  inch. 

Adult  Female.  — (P.  U.  O.  C.  8626,  Kendall  County,  Texas,  U.  S.  A. 
17  March,  1880,  N.  C.  Brown.) 

Total  Length,  14.3  inches. 

Wing,  8.9  inches. 

Culmen,  2.35  inches. 

Tail,  3.4  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.9  inch. 

Color. — Adult  Male  (cited).     General  color  above  deep  umber  brown 


3O2  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 

decorated  with  tawny  and  dull  buff  tipping  and  notching  to  each  feather. 
Lower  parts  buffy  of  a  pale  cinnamon  shade,  decorated  with  striping  on 
neck  and  sagittate  markings  on  the  sides  and  flanks  of  deep  brown. 

Head :  Crown  deep  umber  brown,  the  feathers  bordered  with  creamy 
buff,  giving  a  general  mottled  or  flecked  appearance  to  the  whole.  The 
crown  is  defined  by  the  color  of  the  sides  of  the  head  and  face  as  well  as 
the  nape,  in  which  regions  the  buffy  cinnamon  prevails  and  each  feather 
has  a  median  dark  streak.  A  dusky  region  just  in  front  of  the  eye  indefi- 
nite to  the  base  of  the  bill.  An  almost  immaculate  streak  of  buffy  cinna- 
mon above  this  dusky  streak  is  prolonged  into  a  rather  indefinite  eye- 
brow streak,  which  is  less  immaculate  than  in  front  of  the  eye. 

Neck :  Above  much  like  the  crown ;  below  creamy  buff,  immaculate 
on  chin  and  upper  throat,  striped  with  median  lines  of  umber  on  the 
lower  throat  and  with  sagittate  umber  marks  on  the  lower  throat  and  fore- 
neck. 

Back :  Deep  umber  brown  inclining  to  black,  the  feathers  bordered  termi- 
nally and  somewhat  notched  with  creamy  buff  and  light  rufous  shading. 
Lower  back  similar  in  ground  color,  with  more  profuse  decoration  of  creamy 
buff.  Upper  tail  coverts  bordered  terminally  and  notched  at  least  four  times 
on  each  vane  with  creamy  buff,  giving  a  barred  aspect  to  these  feathers. 

Tail  feathers  barred  dark  brown  and  deep  slate,  bordered  narrowly  and 
tipped  rather  broadly  with  creamy  buff.  The  outer  ones  showing  some 
cinnamon  rufous  in  place  of  the  slate  bars. 

Wings :  The  wing  coverts  like  the  back,  but  with  paler  edging  and 
notching.  The  bastard  wing  and  primary  coverts  much  less  decorated, 
being  almost  clear  dark  umber  brown,  with  slight  edgings  of  creamy  buff. 
The  primaries  are  dark  umber  brown  on  their  exposed  surfaces,  shaded 
with  greyish  brown  on  the  inner  webs.  The  two  outer  ones  are  immactt- 
late  and  the  rest  of  the  series  only  just  tipped  with  creamy  buff.  No 
notch  marks  on  the  primaries.  The  first  primary  has  the  shaft  clear  ivory 
white.  This  color  is  obscured  on  the  shafts  of  the  second  and  third 
primaries  and  from  there  the  shafts  are  deep  brown.  The  secondaries 
are  brown  notched  and  bordered  with  creamy  buff  giving  an  indistinct 
barred  effect. 

Lower  parts  :  General  creamy  buff  with  a  suggestion  of  cinnamon. 
Immaculate  and  light  on  the  chin  and  throat.  Striped,  on  the  neck,  each 
feather  having  a  median  line  of  dark  brown.  Sagittate  markings  of 


AVES CHARADRIIDyE  303 

deep  brown  on  each  feather  of  the  lower  neck,  breast  and  sides,  and 
most  conspicuous  and  definite  on  the  flanks.  Abdomen  immaculate. 
Lateral  lower  tail  coverts  with  indefinite  sagittate  brown  markings,  giving 
a  barred  effect.  Median  lower  tail  coverts  plain  creamy  buff  with  a  cin- 
namon tinge.  Lower  wing  coverts  and  axillaries  bright  cinnamon  rufous 
with  barring  of  deep  umber. 

Bill,  dark  brownish  black,  the  lower  mandible  shading  into  flesh  color 
at  the  base. 

i 

Tarsi,  dark  lead  color. 

Feet,  dark  lead  color. 

Iris,  deep  hazel  brown. 

The  adult  female  is  similar  to  the  adult  male  in  color.  (P.  U.  O.  C. 
8626,  female,  Kendall  county,  Texas,  U.S.A.  17  March,  1880.  N.  C. 
Brown.) 

Young  birds  of  the  year  are  more  spotted  in  appearance  above  and  more 
rufous  in  the  tone  of  the  markings.  The  lower  surface  presents  a  much 
more  streaked  appearance  on  the  neck  and  throat  and  the  sagittate  mark- 
ings more  conspicuous. 

Geographical  Range.  —  North  America,  breeding  in  the  Arctic  Regions 
and  more  common  in  the  interior  than  on  the  coast.  Migrating  to  South 
America  in  the  fall  and  wintering  from  Southern  North  America  to  Pat- 
agonia, and  the  Falkland  Islands. 

The  Eskimo  Curlew  was  not  observed  by  the  naturalists  of  the  Prince- 
ton Expeditions,  but  there  are  numerous  records  from  different  parts  of 
Patagonia,  where  it  was  formerly  very  abundant. 

So  far  as  known  the  birds  are  migratory  in  the  area  under  considera- 
tion, some  travelling  back  from  almost  antarctic  conditions  to  breed  in  the 
far  north  ;  but  it  is  probable  that  most  representatives  do  not  make  so  ex- 
tended a  journey,  finding  a  winter  home  in  middle  America. 

"The  Eskimo  curlew  is  almost  extinct.  Two  were  shot  August  27, 
1908,  at  Newburyport,  Mass.;  a  few  were  reported  by  Dr.  Grenfell  on  the 
Labrador  coast  the  fall  of  1906;  Bigelow  spent  the  entire  fall  of  1900  on 
this  coast  and  saw  only  five  birds  and  heard  of  about  as  many  more.  The 
last  previous  record  in  the  United  States  is  that  of  two  at  Nantucket,  Mass., 
August  1 8,  1898,  and  the  last  specimen  known  from  the  interior  of  the 
United  States  was  taken  by  Paul  Bartsch  at  Burlington,  la.,  April  5,  1893. 


304  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 

"Yet  this  species  was  once  exceedingly  abundant.  All  writers  from 
Cartwright  in  1770  to  Coues  in  1860  testify  to  their  enormous  numbers 
in  fall  migration  on  the  Labrador  coast.  Packard  in  1860,  speaks  of  a 
flock  a  mile  long  and  a  mile  wide. 

"The  Eskimo  curlew  had  an  elliptical  migration  route;  it  nested  on  the 
barren  grounds  of  Canada,  went  southeast  to  Labrador  and  Nova  Scotia, 
then  straight  south  across  the  Atlantic  Ocean  more  than  2,000  miles  at  a 
single  flight  to  the  Lesser  Antilles  and  South  America ;  it  wintered  on 
the  pampas  of  Argentina  and  in  spring  went  north  by  way  of  Texas  and 
the  Mississippi  Valley  in  a  narrow  belt  on  both  sides  of  97°. 

"It  retained  its  former  abundance  until  the  late  seventies  or  early 
eighties  and  then  in  about  ten  years  the  species  became  almost  extinct. 
Some  of  this  diminution  is  probably  due  to  the  fact  that  during  these 
years  the  part  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  through  which  it  migrated  was 
largely  brought  under  cultivation.  But  the  most  potent  factor  has  been 
the  changing  of  its  winter  home — where  it  spent  one  half  the  year  on  the 
pampas  of  Argentina — from  sparsely  settled  grazing  lands  to  enormous 
wheat  lands.  During  the  years  1878-1892  Argentina  increased  its  wheat 
production  fifty-fold  and  the  pampas-loving  Eskimo  curlew  suffered." 
(The  Migration  and  Recent  History  of  the  Eskimo  Curlew:  W.  W. 
Cooke.  Science,  N.  S.,  XXX.  No.  780,  p.  856,  December  10,  1909; 
Report  of  Proceedings,  Biological  Society  of  Washington.) 

Genus  LIMOSA  Brisson. 

Type. 

Limosa,  Briss.  Orn.  V.  p.  261  (1760)  ;  Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds. 
Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  372  (1896)  ;  Sharpe,  Hand-list 

Bds.  I.  p.  159  (1899)  .  .  .  .  .  L.  lapponica. 

Actitis,  pt.  Illig.  Prodr.  p.  262  (1811)       .         .         .         .  L.  lapponica. 

Limicula,  Vieill.  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  III.  p.  245  (1816).  L.  lapponica. 

Fedoa,  Stephens,  Gen.  Zool.  XII.  pt.  L.  p.  70  (1814)        .  L.  fedoa. 

Geographical  Range. — Almost  cosmopolitan. 


LIMOSA  HUDSONICA  (Latham). 

The  Red-breasted  Godwit,  Edwards,   Nat.   Hist.   B.  III.   p.  138,  pi.  138 

(1750). 


FIG.   157. 


Limosa  hudsonica.     Adult.     About  one  half  natural  size.      From  material  in  British  Museum. 


AVES CHARADRIID/E  305 

Hudsonian  Godivit,  Penn.  Arct.  Zool.  Suppl.  p.  68  (1787)  ;  Lath.  Gen. 
Suppl.  I.  p.  246  (1787). 

Scolopax  hudsonica,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  II.  p.  720  (1790). 

Limosa  hudsonica,  Darwin,  Voy.  'Beagle,'  Birds  p.  129  (1841  :  Island  of 
Chiloe;  Falkland  Islands);  Fraser,  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  p.  118  (Chili,  about 
the  mouths  of  rivers  near  the  sea)  ;  Des  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil. 
Zool.  I.  p.  420  (1847)  ;  Hartl.  Naum.  1853,  p.  222  (Chili)  ;  Licht. 
Nomencl.  Av.  Mus.  Berol.  p.  91  (1854:  Chili)  ;  Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1859, 
p.  96  (Falkland  Is.)  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  387  :  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861, 
p.  156  (Falkland  Is.,  May)  ;  Schl.  Mus.  Pays  Bas,  V.  Scolopaces,  p. 
22  (1864:  Falkland  Is.);  Pelz.  Reise  Novara,  Vog.  p.  128  (1865: 
Chiloe)  ;  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  35  (1868  :  Coast  of  Chili)  ; 
Scl.  &Salv.  Ibis,  1870,  p.  500  (Ancud  ;  Chiloe,  Nov.) ;  iid.  Nomencl. 
Av.  Neotr.  p.  146  (1872)  ;  Durnf.  Ibis,  1877,  p.  43  (Chupat  Valley, 
Nov.),  p.  200  (Buenos  Aires,  April  to  Sept.,  common)  ;  Doering, 
Expl.  al  Rio  Negro,  Zool.  p.  57  (1882)  ;  White,  P.  Z.  S.  1883,  p.  42 
(La  Plata,  Nov.)  ;  Seebohm.  Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.  392  (1888)  ; 
Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part  X.  p.  246  (1888  :  Falk- 
land Islands)  ;  Oust.  Miss.  Scient.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  p.  291  (1891); 
Hudson,  Nat.  in  La  Plata,  p.  21  (1892)  ;  James,  New  List  Chil.  B. 
p.  12  (1892) ;  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  388  (1896);  Schalow, 
Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  659  (1898:  Calbuco,  Dec.) ;  Sharpe  Hand- 
list B.  I.  p.  159  (1899)  ;  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p. 
15  (1900:  Straits  of  Magellan  &  Falkland  Islands). 

Limosa  australis,  Gray,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  Part  III.  p.  95  (1844:  San 
Salvador  Bay,  E.  Falklands). 

Limosa  hcemastica,  Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgw.  Water  Birds,  N.  Amer.  I. 
p.  260  (1884);  Scl.  &  Huds,  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  191  (1889);  Hol- 
land, Ibis,  1892,  p.  212  (Estancia  Espartilla,  July  and  Aug.,  rare). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  male.     (P.  U.   O.  C.  8629,  Scarborough,  Maine,  U.  S. 
A.,  27  August,  1877.     N.  C.  Brown.)     Total  length,  14.7  inches. 
Wing,  8.4  inches. 
Culmen,  2.9  inches. 
Tail,  2.9  inches. 
Tarsus,  2.4  inches. 
The  sexes  do  not  vary  greatly  in  size. 


3O6  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY 

Color. — Adult  male  (breeding).  General  color  above  blackish  brown, 
with  creamy  edges  and  rufous  notches  and  spots  to  each  feather.  Below 
pale  creamy  white  on  the  chin,  shading  into  deep  rufous  chestnut  on  the 
throat  and  rest  of  the  lower  parts.  The  neck  streaked  and  the  rest  of  the 
under  parts  obscurely  barred  with  blackish  brown. 

Head :  Crown  ashy  brown,  with  a  rufous  wash  and  each  feather  with 
a  median  region  of  deep  brown.  An  obsolete  eyebrow  of  creamy  white, 
striped  with  fine  brown  lines.  Loral  region  dusky.  Sides  of  face  creamy 
white  with  a  rufescent  tinge.  A  distinct  white  area  or  spot  in  front  of  the 
eye,  and  extending  below  it. 

Neck :  Upper  surface  similar  to  back ;  sides  creamy  white  with  a  rufes- 
cent tinge ;  chin  whitish  with  a  rufous  shading  and  lined  with  fine  spots 
of  blackish  brown ;  lower  throat  deep  rufous  chestnut,  lined  or  streaked 
with  deep  blackish  brown. 

Back:  Blackish  brown,  each  feather  marked  and  notched  with  pale 
rufous.  The  lower  back  and  rump  are  deeper  in  tone  and  the  feathers  are 
narrowly  fringed  with  creamy.  Upper  tail  coverts  black  terminally  and 
crossed  basally  by  a  broad  band  of  white,  forming  a  white  rump  spot. 
The  longer  upper  tail  coverts  with  the  black  predominating. 

Tail :  Black  with  broad  white  bases  and  narrow  white  tips  to  the 
feathers. 

Wings :  Coverts  brown,  showing  much  less  rufous  than  the  back  ;  the 
greater  series  edged  with  white  at  the  ends  of  the  feathers.  The  inner 
greater  coverts  notched  with  rufous  like  the  inner  secondaries.  Bastard 
wing  and  primary  coverts  black,  the  coverts  tipped  with  white  forming 
together  a  white  spot.  Primaries  and  all  but  the  innermost  secondaries 
blackish,  with  white  shafts,  which  show  almost  to  the  ends  of  each  feather. 

Under  parts :  Chin  creamy  or  rufescent  white,  shading  into  deep  rufous 
chestnut  on  the  lower  throat.  This  color  prevails  over  the  entire  under 
surface,  being  streaked  on  the  throat  and  neck  and  barred  on  the  breast, 
chest  and  abdomen  with  dusky  or  blackish.  Under  tail  coverts  broadly 
barred  rufous  chestnut  and  blackish,  tipped  with  white.  Axillaries  blackish. 
Under  wing  coverts  dusky  slate,  the  outer  ones  with  broad  white  edging. 

Bill,  "  greyish  yellow,  dark  brown  along  the  ridge  of  the  upper  man- 
dible, and  blackish  toward  the  tips  of  both"  (J.  J.  Audubon). 

Feet,  "light  grayish  blue"  (J.  J.  Audubon). 

"Iris  dark  hazel  brown. 

"Male.     La  Plata,  Buenos  Aires,  Arg.  Rep.,  Nov.  10,  1882. 


AVES CHARADRIID^E  307 

"Female.     La  Plata,  Buenos  Aires,  Arg.  Rep.,  Nov.  10,  1882. 

"  Iris  dark  sepia. 

"  Frequents  the  lagoons  in  flocks  of  about  thirty."  (E.  W.  White,  P. 
Z.  S.  1883,  p.  42.) 

The  adult  female  in  the  breeding  plumage  is  similar  to  the  male,  but  less 
deeply  colored  and  never  apparently  assuming  the  reddish  plumage  so 
fully. 

Adults  in  winter  plumage.  — Upper  parts  ashy  brown  with  dusky  shaft 
lines  to  the  feathers,  becoming  darker  on  the  lower  back  and  rump. 
Upper  tail  coverts  white  with  black  tips.  Tail  black,  white  at  base.  The 
quills  much  as  in  summer  except  that  the  innermost  secondaries  are  brown 
like  the  back.  The  crown  of  the  head  is  ashy  brown.  Lores  and 
feathers  in  front  of  the  eyes  deeper  brown,  and  above  this  a  streak  of  dull 
white.  Face  and  cheeks  ashy  grey,  paler  below  the  eye.  Upper  neck 
ashy  brown  with  a  fulvescent  shade,  sides  of  neck  ashy  grey,  extending 
over  the  lower  throat,  fore-neck  and  chest,  the  remainder  of  the  under- 
body,  upper  throat  and  chin  being  white.  Axillaries  and  under  wing 
coverts  much  as  in  the  summer  plumage. 

Young  birds  of  the  year  are  similar  in  general  appearance  to  the  adults 
in  winter  plumage.  They  are  a  little  darker  in  general  tone.  The 
feathers  of  the  upper  parts  are  mottled,  the  edge  of  each  feather  being 
tawny  buff,  and  having  a  sub-terminal  black  and  buffy  barring.  The 
inner  secondaries  and  the  central  tail  feathers  are  barred  or  mottled  in  a 
similar  manner.  The  general  tone  of  the  lower  parts  is  more  buffy  than  in 
adults  in  winter ;  sides  of  body  browner  and  the  axillaries  and  under- 
wing  coverts  much  as  in  adults. 

Geographical  Range.  —  North  America,  from  Alaska  to  Hudson  Bay 
and  north  in  the  breeding  season.  Migrating  southward  east  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  and  through  the  eastern  United  States  by  way  of  the  greater 
Antilles  to  South  America,  where  it  has  been  found  in  winter  as  far  south 
as  Chili,  Patagonia,  the  Straits  of  Magellan  and  the  Falkland  Islands. 


The  Hudsonian  Godwit  was  not  observed  by  the  naturalists  of  the 
Princeton  Expeditions.  The  material  for  the  descriptions  given  above  is 
in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History  and  in  the  Princeton  University 


308  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS!     ZOOLOGY 

Museum.  In  the  combined  series  are  birds  from  various  parts  of  Argen- 
tina, from  Patagonia  and  the  Falkland  Islands,  as  well  as  breeding  birds 
from  Hudson  Bay  and  Alaska. 

The  following  biographical  notes  are  from  the  several  sources  indicated  : 
"Here  is  a  puzzle  for  ornithologists.  In  summer  on  the  pampas  we 
have  a  godwit — Limosa  hudsonica;  in  March  it  goes  north  to  breed; 
later  in  the  season  flocks  of  the  same  species  arrive  from  the  south  to 
winter  on  the  pampas.  And  besides  this  godwit,  there  are  several  other 
North  American  species,  which  have  colonies  in  the  southern  hemisphere, 
with  a  reversed  migration  and  breeding  season.  Why  do  these  southern 
birds  winter  so  far  south?  Do  they  really  breed  in  Patagonia?  If  so, 
their  migration  is  an  extremely  limited  one  compared  with  that  of  the 
northern  birds  —  seven  or  eight  hundred  miles,  on  the  outside,  in  one 
case,  against  almost  as  many  thousands  of  miles  in  the  other.  Consid- 
ering that  some  species  which  migrate  as  far  south  as  Patagonia  breed  in 
the  Arctic  regions  as  far  north  as  latitude  82°,  and  probably  higher  still, 
it  would  be  strange  indeed  if  none  of  the  birds  which  winter  in  Patagonia 
and  on  the  pampas  were  summer  visitors  to  that  great  austral  continent, 
which  has  an  estimated  area  twice  as  large  as  that  of  Europe,  and  a  cli- 
mate milder  than  the  arctic  one.  The  migrants  would  have  about  six 
hundred  miles  of  sea  to  cross  from  Tierra  del  Fuego ;  but  we  know  that 
the  golden  plover  and  other  species,  which  sometimes  touch  at  the  Ber- 
mudas when  travelling,  fly  much  further  than  that  without  resting.  The 
fact  that  a  common  Argentine  titlark,  a  non-migrant  and  a  weak  flyer,  has 
been  met  with  at  the  South  Shetland  Islands,  close  to  the  antarctic  con- 
tinent, shows  that  the  journey  may  be  easily  accomplished  by  birds  with 
strong  flight;  and  that  even  the  winter  climate  of  that  unknown  land  is 
not  too  severe  to  allow  an  accidental  colonist,  like  this  small  delicate  bird, 
to  survive."  (Huds.  Natur.  La  Plata,  1892,  pp.  21-22.) 

"The  godwit,  already  mentioned,  has  been  observed  in  flocks  at  the 
Falkland  Islands  in  May,  that  is,  three  months  after  the  same  species  had 
taken  its  autumnal  departure  from  the  neighbouring  mainland.  Can  it  be 
believed  that  these  late  visitors  to  the  Falklands  were  breeders  in  Pata- 
gonia, and  had  migrated  east  to  winter  in  so  bleak  a  region  ?  It  is  far 
more  probable  that  they  came  from  the  south.  Officers  of  sailing  ships 
beating  round  Cape  Horn  might  be  able  to  settle  this  question  definitely 
by  looking  out,  and  listening  at  night,  for  flights  of  birds,  travelling  north 


AVES CHARADRIIDvE  309 

from  about  the  first  week  in  January  to  the  end  of  February ;  and  in  Sep- 
tember and  October  travelling  south.  Probably  not  fewer  than  a  dozen 
species  of  the  plover  order  are  breeders  on  the  great  austral  continent ; 
also  other  aquatic  birds  —  ducks  and  geese;  and  many  Passerine  birds, 
chiefly  of  the  Tyrant  family."  (Huds.  Natur.  La  Plata,  1892,  pp.  22-23.) 
"And  it  is  astonishing  to  find  that,  of  the  five  and  twenty  species,  at 
least  thirteen  are  visitors  from  North  America,  several  of  them  having 
their  breeding  places  quite  away  in  the  Arctic  regions.  This  is  one  of 
those  facts  concerning  the  annual  migration  of  birds  which  almost  stagger 
belief;  for  among  them  are  species  with  widely  different  habits,  upland, 
marsh  and  seashore  birds,  and  in  their  great  biannual  journey  they  pass 
through  a  variety  of  climates,  visiting  many  countries  where  the  condi- 
tions seem  suited  to  their  requirements.  Nevertheless,  in  September, 
and  even  as  early  as  August,  they  begin  to  arrive  on  the  pampas,  the 
golden  plover  often  still  wearing  his  black  nuptial  dress  ;  singly  and  in 
pairs,  in  small  flocks,  and  in  clouds  they  come  —  curlew,  godwit,  plover, 
tatler,  tringa  —  piping  the  wild  notes  to  which  the  Greenlander  listened 
in  June,  now  to  the  gaucho  herdsman  on  the  green  plains  of  La  Plata, 
then  to  the  wild  Indian  in  his  remote  village  ;  and  soon,  further  south,  to 
the  houseless  huanaco-hunter  in  the  grey  wilderness  of  Patagonia." 
(Huds.  Natur.  La  Plata,  1892,  pp.  20-21.) 


Genus  TOTANUS  Bechstein. 

Type. 

Totanus,  Bechst.  Orn.  Taschenb.  II.  p.  282  (1803);  Sharpe, 
Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  405  (1896);  Sharpe, 
H,and-list  Bds.  I.  p.  160  (1899) T.  calidris. 

Gambetta  (nee  Kock),  Kaup,  Nat.  Syst.  p.  54  (1829)    .         .      T.  calidris. 

Erythrocalis,  Kaup,  op.  cit.  p.  54  (1829)      .         .         .  T.  calidris. 

sEgialodes,  Heine,  in  Heine  and  Reichenow,  Nomencl. 

Mus.  Hein.  p.  327  (1890)  ......  T.  calidris. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Almost  cosmopolitan. 


TOTANUS  MELANOLEUCUS  (Gmelin). 

Stone  Snipe,   Penn.  Arct.  Zool.  II.  p.  468  (1785);  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III. 
pt.  I.  p.  152(1785). 


3IO  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS'.     ZOOLOGY 

Scolopax  melanoleucus,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  659  (1788). 

Chorlito  rabadilla  blanca,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  305  (1805). 

Totcums  melanoleucus,  Vieill.  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  VI.  p.  398  (1816); 
Darw.  Voy.  'Beagle,'  Birds,  p.  130  (1841  :  Maldonado  :  Rio  Plata)  ; 
Hartl.  Ind.  Azara,  p.  25  (1847);  id.  Naum.  1853.  p.  222  (Chili); 
Burm.  La  Plata  Reise,  II.  p.  503  (1861) ;  Schl.  Mus.  Pays  Bas,  V.  p. 
63  (1864:  Chili);  Pelz.  Reise  Novara,  Vog.  p.  131  (1865:  Chili); 
Philippi  &  Landb.  Cat.  Ay.  Chil.  p.  35  (1868) ;  Leyb.  Pamp.  Argent, 
p.  54  (1873);  Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgw.  Water  Birds,  N.  Amer.  I.  p. 
269  (1884);  Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  315  (1884:  Concepcion  every 
month ;  Azul,  Jan.:  Bahia  Blanca,  Feb.;  Puan,  March  ;  Carhue,  April ; 
?  breeds  in  Patagonia);  Philippi,  Ornis,  IV.  p.  160  (1888: -Antofa- 
gasta)  ;  Seebohm,  Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.  363  (1888:  Santiago; 
Colonia) ;  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part  X.  p.  246 
(1888:  Northern  Patagonia);  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  186 
(1889:  La  Plata,  Sept.  to  March);  Oust  Miss.  Scient.  Cap  Horn, 
Oiseaux,  pp.  129,  330  (1891);  Graham  Kerr,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  151 
(Fortin  Page,  Sept.);  James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  12  (1892);  Hol- 
land, Ibis,  1892,  p.  212  (Estancia  Espartilla,  common  throughout  the 
year?  breeds);  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV,  p.  426  (1896: 
Straits  of  Magellan) ;  id.  Hand-list  B.  I.  p.  160  (1899);  Carbajal,  La 
Patagonia,  part  II.  p.  273  (1900) ;  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr. 
Vog.  p.  15  (1900). 

Glottis  melanoleuca,  Licht.  Nomencl.  Av.  Mus.  Berol.  p.  91  (1854: 
Montevideo).  * 

Totanus  chilensis,  Philippi,  Wiegm.  Arch.  1857,  P-  2^4  (Chili). 

Gambetta  melanoleuca,  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  144  (Conchitas, 
summer  visitor);  iid.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  145  (1873);  Durnf. 
Ibis,  1877,  P-  T99  (Buenos  Aires  breeds?:  Baradero,  April,  com- 
mon); Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  16  (Talcahuano,  April);  Doering, 
Expl.  al  Rio  Negro,  Zool.  p.  56  (1882  :  Rio  Colorado) ;  White,  P.  Z. 
S.  1882,  p.  628  (Pacheco,  Buenos  Aires,  March) ;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1886, 
p.  404  (Tarapaca) ;  Withington,  Ibis,  1888,  p.  472  (Lomas  de  Zamora, 
a  few  always  to  be  seen  about  the  Lagunas). 


AVES CHARADRIID/E 


FIG.  158. 


Totanus  melanoleucus.     Adult  male.     Breeding.     P.  U.  O.  C.  3839.     One  third  natural  size. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  male.  (P.  U.  O.  C.  3840,  Barnegat,  New  Jersey,  5  May, 
1877.  William  E.  D.  Scott.)  Total  length,  12.0  inches. 

Wing,  7.5  inches. 

Culmen,  2.25  inches. 

Tail,  2.7  inches. 

Tarsus,  2.6  inches. 

Adult  females  average  appreciably  larger  in  size  than  adult  male  birds. 

Color. — General  color  above  greyish,  varied  with  white;  below,  white 
varied  with  greyish  or  blackish  mottling,  streaking  or  barring. 

Adult  male  (cited  above)  breeding  plumage.  Upper  parts,  blackish 
varied  with  pale  grey  or  white;  below  white,  broadly  streaked  on  the 
neck,  decorated  on  the  breast  with  sagittate  markings,  and  barred  on 
the  sides  and  flanks  with  blackish  brown,  deep  in  tone. 

Head  :  Crown  blackish,  each  feather  edged  with  white,  and  a  distinct 
white  median  line  dividing  that  region.  Lores  blackish  with  a  broad 
white  streak  above.  Sides  of  head  and  face  white  streaked  with  blackish. 

Neck  :  Upper  neck  much  like  the  crown.  Lower  neck,  chin  and  throat 
white,  the  rest  white  streaked  with  blackish  like  the  sides  of  the  face. 
This  streaking  becoming  gradually  wider  toward  the  breast. 

Back :  Mantle  blackish,  with  greyish  or  white  edging  and  notching  to 
the  feathers.  The  rump  white,  distinctly  barred  with  black,  the  barring 
being  most  pronounced  on  the  white  upper  tail  coverts. 


312  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY 

Tail :  Greyish,  barred  evenly  with  dusky  or  blackish  brown.  The  outer 
feathers  lighter  in  ground  color,  and  barred  more  profusely  and  distinctly. 

Wings  :  Upper  coverts  like  the  back  in  general  appearance.  The  quills 
blackish,  the  inner  ones  paler  and  the  innermost  secondaries  much  like  the 
back  and  longer  coverts.  Shaft  of  outer  primary  white,  the  rest  brownish. 

Under  parts  white.  The  breast  profusely  decorated  with  sagittate  mark- 
ings of  blackish,  the  sides  and  flanks  barred  with  the  same  color.  The 
under  surface  of  the  neck,  except  the  white  chin  and  upper  throat,  broadly 
streaked  with  blackish.  Under  tail  coverts  definitely  barred  with  black- 
ish. Under  wings  and  axillaries  barred  black  and  white,  the  barring  on 
the  under  wing  coverts  following  the  outline  of  the  feathers. 

Legs,  bright  yellow. 

Feet,  bright  yellow. 

Claws,  brown. 

Iris,  hazel  brown. 

FIG.  159. 


Totanus  melanoleucus.     Adult  in  winter.     P.  U.  O.  C.  5807.     One  third  natural  size. 

Adults  in  winter  are  light  ashy  grey  in  tone  and  not  blackish. '  Above 
they  are  decorated  with  greyish  and  white  much  as  in  the  breeding  dress 
and  the  lower  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  are  white  with  blackish  bar- 
ring. Below  the  streaking  on  the  lower  throat  and  neck  is  much  narrower( 
and  all  the  markings  on  the  breast  and  sides  are  much  reduced  in  size  if 
not  obsolete.  The  wings  and  tail  are  much  as  in  summer,  as  are  the 
under  tail  coverts,  the  lower  wing  coverts  and  axillaries. 

Young  birds  of  the  year  are  much  like  winter  adults  but  are  browner, 
with  less  admixture  of  greyish  or  white  above.  The  central  rectrices  and 
the  head  and  back  being  nearly  uniform,  almost  without  any  white  or  grey- 


AVES CHARADRIID/E  313 

ish  decoration.     The  markings  on  the  under  surface  become  shadings 
of  dusky  ash.     The  legs  and  feet  are  of  an  olive  yellow  shade. 

Geographical  Range. — America.  Breeding  in  the  northern  portion  of 
the  continent  and  visiting  the  extreme  south  of  South  America  during 
winter,  though  many  winter  as  far  north  at  least  as  Florida. 

The  greater  yellow-legs  was  not  noticed  by  the  naturalists  of  the  Prince- 
ton Expeditions.  Material  in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History 
and  in  the  Princeton  Museum  has  been  used  as  a  basis  for  the  descriptions 
of  plumage,  given  above. 

Brief  biographical  sketches  of  the  habits  of  the  birds  both  in  summer  and 
winter  are  appended. 

"I  saw  an  example  of  either  this  species  or  T.  flavipes  (I  think  the 
latter)  on  the  2Oth  October.  In  autumn  this  species  appeared ;  one  shot 
on  3d  March  from  a  Canada  was  extremely  fat.  Just  a  month  later  I  shot 
one  of  a  pair,  and  a  day  or  two  after  saw  another.  The  note  is  very  loud 
and  powerful,  somewhat  resembling  that  of  the  Greenshank,  sometimes 
triple,  but  generally  quadruple."  (O.  V.  Alpin,  on  Birds  Uruguay,  Ibis, 
p.  209,  1894.) 

Mr.  Barrows  writes:  "Occurs  sparingly  at  Concepion  every  month  in 
the  year,  but  in  increased  numbers  during  August,  September,  October 
'  and  November. 

"Birds  taken  during  August  and  September  were  for  the  most  part  in 
worn  plumage  and  quite  thin ;  but  I  never  found  any  which  showed  evi- 
dence of  any  nearness  to  the  breeding  season.  I  believe  that  part  of 
these  birds  bred  in  North  America,  and  the  rest  are  natives  of  the  south- 
ern pampas  of  Patagonia.  They  were  abundant  at  Azul,  January  25  to 
3 1  ;  at  Bahia  Blanca  one  was  seen  on  February  8 ;  I  heard  them  at  Paun, 
March  28,  and  they  were  numerous  at  Carhue  the  first  week  in  April." 
(Barrows,  Auk,  I,  p.  315,  October,  1884.) 

TOTANUS  FLAVIPES  (Gmelin). 

Yellowshanks,  Penn.  Arctic  Zool  II.  p.  468  (1785) ;  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  III. 

pt.  i.  p.  152  (1785). 

Scolopax  flavipes,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  657  (1788). 
Chorlito pardo  mayor,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  314  (1805). 


314  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY 

Totanus  flavipes,  Vieill.  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  VI.  p.  410  (1816);  Darw. 
Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p.  129  (1841:  Montevideo,  Rio  de  La  Plata);. 
Hartl.  Ind.  Azara,  p.  25  (1847);  Burm.  La  Plata  Reise,  II.  p.  503 
(1861:  Mendoza,  Parana) ;  Pelz.  Reise  Novara,  Vog.  p.  131  (1865); 
Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  35  (1868) ;  Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgw. 
Water  Birds  N.  Amer.  I.  p.  273  (1884);  Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  315 
(1884:  Azul,  Jan.,  plentiful;  Concepcion,  not  observed  during  May, 
June,  and  July) ;  Seebohm,  Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.  364  (1888) ;  Scl. 
&  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  187  (1889);  Ridgw.  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat. 
Mus.  XII.  p.  137  (1889:  Gregory  Bay);  Oust.  Miss.  Sclent.  Cap 
Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  297,  330  (1891);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1891,  p  137 
(Tarapaca);  Graham  Kerr,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  151  (Fortin  Page,  Sept.); 
James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  12  (1892);  Holland,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  212 
(Estancia  Espartilla,  fairly  common  throughout  the  year,  more 
numerous  Oct.  to  Feb.);  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  431 
(1896);  Lane,  Ibis,  1897,  p.  311  (Tarapaca);  Sharpe,  Hand-list  B. 
I.  p.  1 60  (1899);  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  15 
(1900:  South  Patagonia). 

Totanus  stagnatilis,  Des  Murs  (nee  Bechst.),  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I. 
p.  422  (1847);  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  36  (1868). 

Gambetta  flavipes,  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  144  (Conchitas,  summer 
visitor)  ;  iid.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  145  (1873)  ;  Durnf.  Ibis,  1876, 
p.  165  (Buenos  Aires,  Oct.),  1877,  p.  43  (Chupat  Valley,  common 
along  the  banks  of  the  river),  p.'  199  (Buenos  Aires,  resident  Bara- 
dero,  April,  common),  1878,  p.  404  (Sengal  river,  occasional)  ;  Scl. 
P.  Z.  S.  1886,  p.  404  (Sacaya,  Tarapaca). 

FIG.  1 60. 


Totanus  flavipes.     Adult  breeding  plumage.     From  the  Princeton  University  Museum.     One 
third  natural  size. 


AVES CHARADRIID^:  315 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  male.  (P.  U.  O.  C.  781,  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  14  Au- 
gust, 1875.  William  E.  D.  Scott.)  Total  length,  9.5  inches. 

Wing,  6.75  inches. 

Culmen,  1.51  inch. 

Tail,  2.35  inches. 

Tarsus,  2.0  inches. 

The  adult  female  does  not  differ  appreciably  in  size  from  the  adult 
male. 

Color.  —  Adult  male  breeding  plumage.  Very  similar  to  the  adult  breed- 
ing male  of  T.  melanoleucus. 

The  various  stages  of  plumage  just  described  (pp.  311-313)  of  T. 
melanoleuczts  are  essentially  duplicated  in  T.  flavipes  and  in  adult  breed- 
ing birds  the  likeness  is  striking  except  for  the  difference  in  size.  The 
legs  and  feet  in  the  adult  of  T.  flavipes  are  the  same  shade  of  bright 

FIG.  161. 


Totanus  flavipes.  Winter  plumage.  From  the  Princeton  University  Museum.  One  third 
natural  size. 

yellow.     It  does  not  appear  essential  to  go  further  into  details  of  seasonal 
change  which  are  almost  identical  with  those  of  T.  melanoleucus. 

The  most  obvious  character  in  discriminating  the  two  forms,  aside  from 
their  substantial  difference  in  size,  is  in  the  relative  proportion  of  the  nasal 
groove  to  the  total  length  of  the  upper  mandible. 

In  Totanus  flavipes,  the  nasal  groove  occupies  more  than  half  of  the 
total  length  of  the  upper  mandible.     In  Totanus  melanoleticus  it  occupies ' 
less  than  half  of  the  total  length  of  the  upper  mandible. 


3l6  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY 

Geographical  Range. — America.  Breeding  in  the  colder  temperates 
and  sub-arctic  portions  of  North  America.  Migrating  south  chiefly  east 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains  by  way  of  the  West  Indies  and  wintering  in 
South  America  as  far  south  as  Central  Argentina,  Chili  and  Chupat,  Pata- 
gonia, and  in  North  America  at  least  as  far  north  as  the  Gulf  coast  of 
Florida.  Has  occurred  accidentally  in  Europe  (Ridgway). 

The  lesser  Yellow-legs  was  not  observed  by  the  naturalists  of  the 
Princeton  Expeditions.  The  material  examined  consists  of  the  ample 
series  in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History,  and  the  smaller  series 
in  the  Princeton  Museum. 


Subfamily  SCOLOPACINsE. 

Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV,  p.  520  (1896);   Sharpe,  Hand-list 
Bds.  I.  p.  162  (1899). 

Genus  CALIDRIS  Illiger. 

Type. 
Calidris,    Cuvier,  Lecons  Anat.  Comp.  Tab.   II.    (1800; 

descr.  Nulla) "Maubeche." 

Arenaria  (nee.  Brisson),  Bechst.  Orn.  Taschenb.  p.  462 

A.   (1803)         .         .         .         .         .'        .         .  C.  arenaria. 

Calidris,  Illiger,  Prodr.  Syst.  Nat.  p.  249  (1811)  ;  Sharpe, 
Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  526  (1896)  ;  id.,  Hand- 
list Bds.  I.  p.  163  (1899)  .  .  ..  „•'  .  .  C.  arenaria. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Nearly  cosmopolitan. 

CALIDRIS  ARENARIA  (Linnaeus). 

The  Sanderling,  Albin,  Nat.  Hist.  B.  II.  p.  68  (1738). 

Tringa  arenaria  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I.  p.  251  (1766)  ;  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat. 

Av.  Chil.    p.  35  (1868);  Seebohm,  Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.    431 

(1888). 
Calidris  arenaria,  Hartl.  Naum.  1853,  p.  222  (Chili) ;  Pelz.  Reise  Novara, 

Vog.  p.  131  (1865;  Chili);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  145 

(1873);  Durnf.  Ibis,  1878,  p.  404  (Tambo  Point,  Patagonia,  Dec.); 


AVES CHARADRIID/E 


317 


Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  10  (Talcahuano,  Sept.)  ;  Salvin,  P.  Z.  S. 
1883,  p.  429  (Coquimbo) ;  Baird,  Brewer,  &  Ridgw.,  Water  Birds  N. 
Amer.  I.  p.  249  (1884);  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III. 
part  X.  p.  246  (1888:  coast  of  Patagonia);  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent. 
Orn.  II.  p.  1 86  (1889)  ;  Oust.  Miss.  Scient  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp. 
296>  330  (1891)  ;  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV,  p.  526  (1896)  ; 
Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  659  (1898:  Cavancha,  May); 
Sharpe,  Hand-list  B.  I.  p.  163  (1899);  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh. 
Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  15  (1900:  Patagonia). 

FIG.  162. 


Calidris  arenaria.     Breeding  plumage.     From  bird  in  the  British  Museum.     Natural  size. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  Male,   Breeding  Plumage.     P.   U.  O.   C.   5631,   Cobbs 
Island,  Virginia,  3  July,  1881,  William  E.  D.  Scott. 


318  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY 

Total  length,  7  inches. 

Wing,  4.75  inches. 

Culmen,  1.05  inch. 

Tail,  1.8  inch. 

Tarsus,  0.9  inch. 

The  female  does  not  differ  appreciably  in  size  from  the  male. 

Color.  —  Adult  male  breeding  (cited).  General  color  above  mottled 
light  rusty  red,  and  blackish,  the  feathers  with  white  edges  and  fringes. 
Below  foreparts  rusty  red  speckled  with  dusky  ;  remainder  lower  parts 
immaculate  white. 

Head :  Crown  deep  rusty  with  blackish  centers  to  the  feathers  ;  sides 
of  the  face  bright  light  rufous  speckled  with  dusky. 

Neck:  Above  much  like  the  crown,  on  the  sides  and  below  bright 
light  rufous  speckled  with  dusky. 

Back :  Mottled  black  and  rusty  rufous,  the  centers  of  the  feathers  being 
blackish,  their  edges  rusty,  and  frequently  fringed  with  whitish.  The  rump 
more  ashy,  less  rusty  and  more  white  edging  to  the  feathers.  Medium, 
upper  tail  coverts  dusky  with  rusty  and  greyish  edging.  Lateral  upper 
tail  coverts  pure  white. 

Tail :  Central  rectrices  ashy  grey,  darkest  toward  their  tips,  with  light 
shafts  and  pale  margins.  Remainder  of  rectrices  lighter,  whitening  on 
their  inner  webs,  margined  with  white  externally  and  with  pure  white 
shafts. 

Wings  :  Scapulars,  innermost  secondaries  and  upper  wing  coverts, 
mottled  like  the  back,  rusty  and  black  with  whitish  edgings.  The  greater 
coverts  broadly  tipped  with  white,  forming  a  conspicuous  wing  band. 
Primaries  dusky  blackish  on  the  exposed  surfaces,  paling  on  their  inner 
bases  and  with  the  bases  broadly  white.  The  shafts  of  the  primaries  ivory 
white.  Secondaries,  except  the  innermost  ones  much  like  the  primaries 
but  with  a  gradual  darkening  of  the  shafts. 

Lower  parts :  Chin,  throat,  under  neck  and  breast  rusty  red  dotted 
with  dusky ;  this  region  color  being  continuous  with  the  like  color  of  the 
face  and  sides  of  the  neck.  The  rest  of  the  lower  parts,  including  the 
under  wing  coverts,  axillaries  and  under  tail  coverts  pure  white. 

Bill,  greenish  black. 

Legs  and  feet,  greenish  black. 

Iris,  brown. 


AVES CHARADRIID^ 


319 


Adults  in  winter,  are  similar  in  the  disposal  of  the  color  areas  but  the 
general  color  above  is  light  ashy  grey,  the  edges  of  the  feathers  more  or 

FIG.  163. 


Calidris  arenaria.     Winter  plumage.     The  upper  figure  is  an  immature,  and  the  lower  figure 
an  adult  bird  at  that  season.     From  birds  in  the  British  Museum.     Natural  size. 

• 

less  distinctly  hoary  white,  and  absolute  dark  centers  to  those  of  the  crown 
and  back.     The  head  is  characterised  by  a  broad  band  of  white  occupying 


32O  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 

the  frontal  region,  a  more  or  less  defined  white  eyebrow  stripe,  the  sides  of 
the  face  are  white,  with  little  or  no  dusky  markings  and  the  entire  lower 
parts  are  white.  Some  individuals  show  faint  dusky  lines  or  dots  on  the 
breast. 

The  sexes  are  similar  in  color,  both  breeding  and  winter  dress. 

Young  birds  of  the  year  differ  from  adults  in  winter,  in  not  being  so  uni- 
form in  color  above.  The  dusky  markings  on  back  and  head  are  better 
defined,  the  streaks  on  the  crown  often  reaching  across  middle  of  the  white 
frontal  band  to  the  bill.  The  sides  of  the  breast  are  shaded  with  buffy 
and  the  sides  of  the  neck  are  distinctly  spotted  with  dusky. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Nearly  cosmopolitan.  Breeds  in  the  Arctic  re- 
gions, and  visits  the  southern  continents  and  many  of  the  islands  of  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans  in  winter;  extreme  South  America,  Africa 
and  Asia,  but  does  not  appear  to  have  been  recorded  from  Australia  or 
New  Zealand. 


The  Sanderling  Sandpiper  was  not  noticed  by  the  naturalists  of  the 
Princeton  Expeditions,  but  it  has  been  recorded  from  many  points  in  that 
region.  The  descriptions  are  founded  on  the  large  series  of  these  birds 
in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History  and  on  some  twenty-five  indi- 
viduals in  the  Princeton  Museum. 


Genus  HETEROPYGIA  Coues. 

*  Type. 

Heteropygia,  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.  1861,  p. 
191  ;  Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  561 
(1896);  id.,  Hand-list  Bds.  I.  p.  163  (1899).  .  .  H.  fuscicollis. 

Delopygia  (nom.  altern.),  Coues,  op.  cit.  1861,  p.  190, 

note H.  fuscicollis. 

Limnocinclus,  Gould,  Handb.  B.  Austr.  II.  p.  254  (1865).      H.  acmninata. 

Geographical  Range.  —  North  and  South  America.     Eastern  Siberia  to 
China  and  Australia.     Accidental  in  Europe. 


AVES CHARADRIID^E  321 

HETEROPYGIA  MACULATA  (Vieillot). 

'Tringa  pectoralis,  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  36  (1868);  Philippi, 
Ornis,  IV.  p.  160  (1888:  Autofagasta). 

Tringa  maculata,  Vieill.  Nov.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  XXXIV.  p.  465  (1819); 
Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr. -p.  145  (1873);  Durnf.  Ibis,  1877, 
p.  43  (Chupat  Valley,  abundant),  1878,  p.  68  (Buenos  Aires,  Oct.  to 
April);  Barrows,  Auk.  I.  p.  314  (1884:  Concepcion,  Feb.  to  Oct.; 
Carhue,  March  and  April);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1886,  p.  404  (Huasco, 
Tarapaca);  id.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  183  (1889);  Oust.  Miss. 
Scient.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  295,  330  (1891) ;  Holland,  Ibis,  1891, 
pp.  16,  20  (Arg.  Rep.,  April,  fairly  common);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1891,  p. 
137  (Tarapaca);  Graham  Kerr,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  151  (Fortin  Page); 
James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  12  (1892);  Lane,  Ibis,  1897,  P-  311 
(Tarapaca). 

Actodromas  maculata,  Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgw.,  Water  Birds  N.  Amer. 
I.  p.  232  (1884). 

Tringa  acuminate  pectoralis,  Seebohm,  Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.  443 
(1888). 

Tringa  bairdi,  Alpin  (nee  Coues),  Ibis,  1894,  p.  209  (Uruguay). 

Heteropygia  maculata,  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  562  (1896: 
Port  Desire,  Patagonia) ;  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  660 
(1898:  Cavanche,  May);  Sharpe,  Hand-list  B.  I.  p.  163  (1899); 
Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  15  (1900:  South  Pata- 
gonia). 

FIG.  164. 


Heteropygia  maculata.     Summer  plumage.     P.  U.  O.  C.  5617.     Three  eighths  natural  size. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.—  Adult  male.     (P.  U.  O.  C.  5617.     Cobbs  Island,  Virginia,  28 
July,  1 88 1.     William  E.  D.  Scott.)     Total  length,  9  inches. 
Wing,  5.6  inches. 


322  PATAGONIAN  EXPEDITIONS!  ZOOLOGY 

Oilmen,  1.2  inch. 

Tail,  2.45  inches. 

Tarsus,  i.i  inch. 

The  sexes  do  not  differ  appreciably  in  size,  but  there  is  a  marked  dif- 
ference in  this  respect  in  individuals,  indicated  by  a  maximum  length  of 
9.5  inches  and  a  minimum  length  of  8  inches,  and  a  corresponding  ratio 
in  other  parts. 

Color. — General  color  above  light  clay  or  buffy  brown,  broadly  striated 
with  dusky  or  blackish.  Below,  white  with  a  broad  pectoral  band  extend- 
ing well  onto  the  fore-neck,  light  greyish  buff,  broadly  streaked  with 
dusky  or  blackish. 

Head :  Crown  dusky  brown,  each  feather  margined  with  dusky  greyish 
buff  with  indications  of  rusty  or  rufous.  Forehead  and  sides  of  the  head 
and  face  dusky  greyish  buff,  each  feather  with  a  median  streak  of  dusky  or 
blackish.  The  loral  region  paler,  almost  or  quite  white.  A  rather  obscure 
eyebrow  stripe  of  buffy  like  the  forehead. 

Neck :  Above  dusky  greyish  buff,  each  feather  with  a  median  stripe  of 
dusky  brown  or  blackish.  Below  chin  and  throat  white.  The  rest  of 
the  lower  neck  and  the  sides  of  the  neck,  dusty  greyish  buff  broadly 
streaked  with  blackish,  the  streaks  becoming  broader  and  arrow  shaped  as 
the  region  of  the  breast  is  approached. 

Back :  Light  dusty  buff  or  clay  color  with  a  suggestion  of  rusty,  each 
feather  with  a  broad  dusky  or  blackish  central  area,  giving  to  the  whole 
a  streaked  effect.  Lower  back  and  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  more  uni- 
form dusky,  the  feathers  only  slightly  margined  with  buff. 

Tail :  Central  rectrices  blackish,  the  remaining  ones  dusky  greyish, 
narrowly  margined  and  tipped  with  white. 

Wings:  Lesser  wing  coverts  dull  brown,  the  median  coverts  brown 
with  darker  centers  and  dusty  fulvous  or  buffy  margins.  Greater  coverts 
dusky  brown  with  fulvous,  buffy  or  whitish  ending  and  tips.  The  bas- 
tard wing  dull  brown  ;  primary  coverts  blackish,  the  inner  ones  tipped 
with  white.  Quills  deep  brown,  paling  on  their  inner  webs  and  the  first 
primary  with  the  shaft  ivory  white  almost  to  the  tip.  The  shafts  of  the 
succeeding  quills  decreasing  ivory  white  until  the  shafts  of  the  inner  quills 
are  brownish. 

Lower  Parts  :  White,  except  for  a  broad  pectoral  band  of  ashy  brown, 
each  feather  fringed  with  buffy,  giving  the  terminal  portion  of  the  ashy 


AVES CHARADRIID/E  323 

brown  of  each  feather  an  arrow-like  shape.  This  area  extends  on  the 
lower  neck  to  the  upper  throat  and  chin,  where  the  dusky  area  of  each 
feather  takes  the  form  of  streaks  ;  under  wing  coverts  and  axillaries  white. 

Bill,  deep  greenish  black,  palest  at  base. 

Legs  and  feet,  greyish  yellow  shaded  with  brown. 

Iris,  deep  hazel  brown. 

FIG.  165. 


Heteropygia  maculata.     Winter  plumage.     P.  U.  O.  C.  3984.     Three  eighths  natural  size. 

» 

Adults  in  winter  have  the  upper  parts  more  uniform,  the  dark  streaking 
being  much  less  pronounced  and  the  lighter  tints  not  so  buffy  or  rusty. 
The  lower  parts  are  much  as  in  summer,  but  the  dusky  of  the  pectoral 
band  is  obscured  by  the  longer  buff  grey  edging  of  the  feathers. 

Young  birds  of  the  year  are  more  like  breeding  birds  than  winter  adults. 
They  differ  in  being  much  more  rufous  in  general  appearance  and  the 
scapulars  and  inner  secondaries  are  very  conspicuously  margined  with 
white.  The  breast  and  fore-neck  are  similar  in  marking  to  winter  adults, 
but  again  the  rusty  tone  prevails. 

Geographical  Range.  —  North  and  South  America.  Breeding  in  the 
Arctic  regions  of  North  America  and  migrating  south  in  winter  so  that 
representatives  are  found  as  far  south  as  Chili  and  Patagonia,  though 
many  remain  in  the  warmer  portions  of  North  America  (Texas,  Florida, 
etc.)  during  the  winter  months. 

The  naturalists  of  the  Princeton  Expeditions  did  not  record  the  Pec- 
toral Sandpiper,  but  the  records  for  that  region  are  many  and  are  referred 
to  in  detail  in  the  citations  of  the  literature  of  the  species.  The  descrip- 
tions here  given  are  based  on  the  large  series  in  both  the  Museum  of 
Princeton  University  and  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History. 

"Common  in  flocks  at  Concepcion  through  the  larger  part  of  the  year, 
only  absenting  itself  from  the  middle  of  November  to  the  middle  of  Jan- 


324  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY 

uary,  and  even  then  a  few  may  usually  be  found.  They  are  almost  always 
in  company  with  the  preceding  species  (Heteropygia  fiiscicollis],  often 
forming  flocks  of  several  hundred  individuals.  Where  they  go  in  the  sum- 
mer I  do  not  know,  but  they  were  abundant  at  Carhue  and  neighboring 
places  in  March  and  April."  (Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  314,  October,  1884.) 

HETEROPYGIA  BAIRDI  (Coues). 

Actodromus  bairdii,  Coues,  Pr.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.  1861,  p.  194. 

Tringa  dorsalis,  Burm.  Reise  La  Plata,  II.  p.  503  (1861). 

Tringa  bairdi,  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867,  p.  332  (Santiago);  id.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S. 
1868,  p.  144  (Conchitas),  1873,  p.  455  (Buenos  Aires);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S. 
1886,  p.  404  (Tarapaca);  Tacz.  Orn.  Perou,  III.  p.  359  (1886);  See- 
bohm,  Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.  444  (1888);  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent. 
Orn.  II.  p.  184  (1889);  James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  12  (1892) ;  Aplin, 
Ibis,  1894,  p.  209  (Uruguay,  April). 

Heteropygia  bairdi,  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  570  (1896;  Tara- 
paca, Jan.,  Feb.:  Santiago:  Talcahuano,  Sept.:  Pampas  Argentinas); 
id.,  Hand-list  B.  I.  p.  164  (1899). 

FIG.  1 66. 


Heteropygia  bairdi.     Head  of  adult  in  winter.     P.  U.  O.  C.  7797.     One  half  natural  size. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.  —  Male  adult.  P.  U.  O.  C.  7796,  near  Rio  Coy,  Patagonia,  30 
September,  1896.  J.  B.  Hatcher.)  Total  length,  7.4  inches. 

Wing,  4.85  inches. 

Culmen,  i.o  inch. 

Tail,  2.0  inches. 

Tarsus,  0.95  inch. 

The  sexes  do  not  vary  appreciably  in  size,  but  there  is  a  considerable 
range  in  size  individually,  denoted  by  a  minimum  length  of  6.9  inches  and 
a  maximum  length  of  7.7  inches.  The  wing  varies  from  4.6  inches  to 
4.9  inches. 


AVES — rCHARADRIID^E  325 

Color  adult  male  in  breeding  plumage.  Head.  —  Crown  greyish  buffy , 
broadly  streaked  with  blackish  or  very  dark  brown.  Base  of  forehead  and 
an  eyebrow  streak  as  well  as  the  cheeks  white  ;  a  dusky  loral  area  ;  auric- 
ulars  greyish  with  brownish  buff  shading. 

Neck:  Above  buffy  grey  inclining  to  sandy,  minutely  streaked  with 
brownish  in  contrast  to  the  crown  area.  This  color  extending  over  the 
sides  of  the  neck  to  the  under  parts  and  to  the  chest  continuously.  Chin 
white. 

Back :  Upper  back  and  scapulars  light  brownish  grey,  inclining  to 
sandy  and  irregularly  marked  with  brownish  black  and  greyish  buff ;  the 
lower  back  and  rump  plain  dusky,  as  are  the  median  iipper  tail  coverts,  the 
lateral  upper  tail  coverts  being  white. 

FIG.  167. 


Heteropygia  bairdi.  Showing  the  pattern  of  the  tail  and  upper  tail  coverts.  P.  U.  O.  C.  7797. 
Two  thirds  natural  size. 

Tail :  Uniform  dusky,  the  two  central  rectrices  being  distinctly  darker 
contrasted  with  the  others.  All  the  rectrices  with  white  shafts. 

Wings:  Coverts  brown  with  sandy  buff  edgings,  the, greater  series 
rather  darker  and  in  addition  edged  with  whitish.  Bastard  wing  and  pri- 
mary coverts  dusky.  Quills  light  brown  ;  the  primaries  darker  on  their 
exposed  surfaces,  and  lighter  on  their  inner  webs.  All  the  quills  with  their 
shafts  ivory  white  shading  to  darker  toward  the  tips.  The  innermost 
secondaries  approaching  the  general  character  of  the  back  in  color  and 
marking. 

Lower  parts :  Chin  and  upper  throat  white.  An  undefined  pectoral 
area  continuous  with  the  darker  portions  of  the  neck,  greyish  sandy  buff, 
streaked  and  marked  with  dull  greyish  brown.  Back  of  the  pectoral  area 
the  lower  parts  are  white  with  little  or  no  streaking  on  the  sides  or  flanks. 

Bill,  blackish. 


326  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY 

Feet  and  legs,  slaty  black. 

Iris,  deep  brown. 

Adults  in  winter  are  plain  buffy  brown  above,  each  feather  with  an  in- 
distinct dusky  median  streak.  The  feathers  of  the  rump  and  median 
upper  tail  coverts  dusky  brown  with  dull  buffy  terminal  edging.  The  lower 
parts  are  dull  white,  the  sides  of  the  neck  and  the  pectoral  area  strongly 
suffused  with  buffy,  obscuring  the  darker  streaking,  more  apparent  in  the 
summer  plumage. 

Young  birds  of  the  year  have  the  general  appearance  of  adults  but  the 
suffusion  of  the  darker  regions  is  marked  ;  it  is  caused  by  the  terminal 
greyish  white  fringing  and  margining  of  the  feathers. 

Geographical  Range. — America  in  general.  More  common  in  the  in- 
terior. Breeding  on  the  Arctic  coasts.  Migrating  chiefly  in  the  interior 
to  South  America.  Reaching  as  far  south  as  Chili  and  Northern  Argen- 
tina, and  in  the  interior  to  Southern  Patagonia  (S.  Lat.  50°);  accidental 
in  Damara  Land,  Southwest  Africa. 

The  naturalists  of  the  Princeton  Expeditions  obtained  Baird's  Sand- 
piper in  the  interior  of  Southern  Patagonia  near  Rio  Coy.  It  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  at  all  common  at  this  point  and  was  not  observed 
or  taken  elsewhere  in  the  region.  The  two  individuals  are  cited  in  detail 
below. 

While  the  species  has  been  recorded  from  Chili  and  Western  South 
America  generally,  it  does  not  figure  as  an  element  in  the  Patagonian 
fauna,  and  apparently  the  two  birds  cited  are  the  only  known  Patagonian 
records. 


P.  U.  O.  C. 

Sex. 

Date. 

Locality. 

Collector. 

7796 

7797 

Male. 
Female. 

30  September,  1896. 
30  September,  1  896. 

Near  Rio  Coy,  Patagonia. 
Near  Rio  Coy,  Patagonia. 

J.  B.  Hatcher. 
J.  B.  Hatcher. 

"On  the  3d  April  I  met  with  a  party  of  five  small  Tringse  in  a  part  of 
the  Sauce  where  it  was  wide  and  shallow  with  low  underbanks.  I  believe 
they  were  of  this  species,  but  the  only  one  I  knocked  over  managed  to 
hide  itself  effectually.  The  next  day  I  shot  a  female  from  a  boggy  bit 
higher  up  the  river  where  I  often  shot  Snipe.  She  rose  silently  and  had 
somewhat  the  appearance  of  a  small  Snipe ;  the  food  in  the  stomach  was 


AVES CHARADRIID^E  327 

the  remains  of  small  coleopterous  and  other  aquatic  insects."     (O.  V. 
Alpin,  on  Birds  Uruguay,  Ibis,  p.  209,  1894.) 


HETEROPYGIA  FUSCICOLLIS  (Vieillot). 

Chorlito  pestorejo,  pardo,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  322  (1805). 

Tringa  fustico-llis,  Vieill.  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  XXXIV.  p.  461  (1819: 
ex  Azara);  Hartl.  Ind.  Azara,  p.  25  (1847);  Scl.  &  Salv.  Nomencl. 
Av.  Neotr.  p.  145  (1873);  Durnf.  Ibis,  1878,  p.  68  (Buenos  Aires, 
spring  and  autumn,  common :  Baradero,  April),  p.  404  (Sengel  and 
Sengelen  Valleys,  common  resident) ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p. 
438  (Falkland  Is.),  iid.  Voy.  Chall.  p.  109  (1881);  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S. 
1881,  p.  16  (Peckett  Harbour,  Jan.);  White,  P.  Z.  S.  1883,  p.  42 
(La  Plata,  Nov.,  found  plentifully  on  the  edges  of  the  lagunas) ; 
Vincig.,  Exped.  Austr.  Arg.  p.  58  (1883:  Isola  degli  Stati) ;  Bar- 
rows, Auk,  I.  p.  314  (1884:  Concepcion,  Feb.  to  Oct.:  Carhue, 
March  and  April) ;  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  185  (1889: 
Patagonia,  winter) ;  Ridgw.  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  XII.  p.  137  (1889: 
Gregory  Bay)  ;  Oust.  Miss.  Scient.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  127,  330 
(1891);  Holland,  Ibis,  1891,  pp.  16,  20  (Buenos  Aires,  March  to 
May,  common) ;  Graham  Kerr,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  151  (Lower  Pilcomayo) ; 
Holland,  t.  c.  p.  211  (Estancia  Espartilla,  fairly  common  March  to 
Aug.) ;  Carbajal,  La  Patagonia,  part  II.  p.  273  (1900) ;  Crawshay,  B. 
Tierra  del  Fuego,  p.  128  (1907);  Useless  Bay  Settlement,  Septem- 
ber 17,  1904. 

Pelidna  schinzii,  Darw.  (nee  Brehm),  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p.  131  (1841  : 
Shores  of  the  inland  bays  of  the  southern  parts  of  Tierra  del 
Fuego). 

Schczniclus  schinzii,  Gray  (nee  Brehm),  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  part  III.  p.  105 
(1844:  Port  St.  Julian,  Patagonia). 

Tringa  schinzii,  Hartl.  Naum.  1853,  p.  222  (Chili);  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat. 
Av.  Chil.  p.  36  (1868). 

Tringa  bonapartii,  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  387;  Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  156 
(Falkland  Is.,  summer  visitor,  breeds);  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p. 
144  (Conchitas,  winter  visitor),  1873,  p.  455  (Falkland  Is.:  Buenos 
Aires),  Seebohm,  Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.  445  (1888);  Burm.  An. 
Mus.  Buenos  Aires,  III,  part  X.  p.  246  (1888:  Falkland  Is). 


328  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY 

Actodromas  fuscicollis,  Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgw.  Water  Birds,  N.  Amer. 

I.  p.  227  (1884). 
Heteropygia  fuscicollis,  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  574  (1896: 

Patagonia  and  Falkland  Islands);  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV. 

p.  660  (1898:    Punta  Anegada,  Tierra  del    Fuego,  Jan.);    Sharpe, 

Hand-list  B.  I.  p.   164  (1899);  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX. 

p.   626   (1900:  Penguin  Rookery,   Feb.);  Martens,   Hamb.  Magalh. 

Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  15  (1900:  South  Patagonia  and  Falkland  Islands). 

FIG.  1 68. 


\ 

Heteropygia  fuscicollis.     Winter  plumage.     P.  U.  O.  C.  7799.     One  half  natural  size. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  Female,  P.  U.  O.  C.  7798,  Near  Port  Gallegos,  Patagonia, 
1 8  January,  1898,  A.  E.  Colburn. 

Total  length,  about  6.6  inches. 

Wing,  4.95  inches. 

Culmen,  0.95  inch. 

Tail,  1.8  inch. 

Tarsus,  0.9  inch. 

The  sexes  do  not  vary  greatly  in  size,  but  the  individual  variation  is 
even  more  marked  than  in  H.  bairdi.  The  average  size  of  H.  fuscicollis 
is  on  the  whole  smaller  than  in  H.  bairdi  but  individuals  of  H.  fuscicollis 
occur  smaller  than  the  smallest  H.  bairdi  in  the  collections,  and  there  is 
also  one  individual  larger  than  any  available  examples  of  H.  bairdi. 

Color. — Adults  in  breeding  plumage.  Similar  to  H.  bairdi,  but  much 
more  rufous,  the  feathers  of  the  interscapular  region  and  the  scapulars  being 
broadly  margined  with  rusty.  The  upper  tail  coverts  are  all  white,  though 
sometimes  marked  with  dusky.  The  sides  and  flanks  are  not  pure  white, 
but  have  some  dusky  streaking,  arrow  shaped  markings,  or  even  barring, 
on  the  latter  region.  The  general  prevailing  tone  of  rufous  is  marked  on  the 


AVES CHARADRIID/E  0  329 

head,  and  the  region  of  the  ear  coverts.     The  pectoral  region  is  buffy  in 
tone  much  as  in  H.  bairdi. 

Winter  adidts  are  very  similar  in  appearance  to  H.  bairdi  at  that  sea- 
son,  but  can  be  generally  discriminated,  by  their  slightly  smaller  size, 

FIG.   169. 


Heteropygia  fuscicollis.     Showing  the  pattern  of  the  tail  feathers  and  the  upper  tail  coverts. 

P.  U.  O.  C.  7799.     About  two  thirds  natural  size. 

« 

white  upper  tail  coverts  and  the  markings  on  the  sides  and  flanks.  At 
this  season  adults  are  more  uniformly  ashy  grey  than  are  the  adults  of  H. 
bairdi. 

Young  birds  of  the  year  are  similar  to  summer  adults  in  their  general 
rusty  tone,  but  have  very  broad  whitish  edging  to  the  feathers  of  the  back 
and  to  the  scapulars.  The  pectoral  region  is  browner  and  the  streaking 
obscured  by  the  terminal  unworn  edges  of  the  feathers,  which  are  long  and 
filamentous.  The  sides  of  the  body  are  washed  with  pale  brown, 
through  which  the  markings  characterizing  the  species  are  obvious. 

"Male.     La  Plata,  Buenos  Aires,  Arg.  Rep.,  Nov.  3,  1882. 

"Iris  brown. 

"Found  abundantly  in  flocks  on  the  edges  of  the  lagoons,  sometimes 
intermingling  with  flocks  of  T.  dorsalis."  (E.  W.  White,  P.  Z.  S.  1883, 
p.  42.) 

733,  male,  Falkland  Islands. 

"Eyes  brown;  stomach  had  sand,  etc." 

(Sclater  &  Salvin,  on  Birds  Antarctic  America,  Voy.  H.  M.  S.  "Chall." 
—  No.  IX.  p.  438,  1878.) 

"Female  in  winter  plumage:  Peckett  Harbour,  January  4,  1879." 
(Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  16.) 

Geographical  Range.  —  Eastern  North  America,  breeding  in  the  high 
latitudes.  Migrating  south  by  the  Eastern  Coast  of  Central  America, 


33°  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS!     ZOOLOGY 

and  the  Antilles  to  South  America,  reaching  extreme  Southern  South 
America  and  the  Falkland  Islands. 


Bonaparte's,  or  the  white-rumped  Sandpiper  was  obtained  by  the  nat- 
uralists of  the  Princeton  Expeditions  and  the  individuals  are  cited  below 
in  detail. 


P.  U.  O.  C. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

7798 

7799 

Female. 
Female. 

Palaike,  Patagonia. 
Palaike,  Patagonia. 

1  8  January,  1898. 
1  8  January,  1898. 

A.  E.  Colburn. 
A.  E.  Colburn. 

In  writing  of  the  White-rumped  Sandpiper  Mr.  Barrows  says  :  "  In 
small  squads  or  large  flocks  at  the  same  times  and  places  as  the  following 
species."  (Barrows,  Auk.  I.  p.  314,  October,  1884.)  The  "following 
species  "  here  referred  to  is  Heteropygia  maculata,  which  the  same  writer 
speaks  of  as  being  present  throughout  the  year  save  in  the  period  between 
the  middle  of  November  and  the  middle  of  January.  This  is  not  a  little 
remarkable,  as  both  kinds  of  sandpipers  are  known  to  breed  in  the  far 
North  and  during  the  months  of  May,  June  and  July. 


Genus    ANCYLOCHILUS    Kaup. 

Type. 

Ancylocheilus,  Kaup,  Natiirl.  SySt.  p.  50  (1829)    .         .    A.  subarquatus. 
Ancylocheilus,  Kaup,  =  Ancylochilus,  Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds. 

Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  585  (1896);  id.,  Hand-list  Bds. 

I.  p.  164(1899). 
Falcinellus,  Cuv.  (nee  V.),  Regne  Anim.  I.  p.  527  (1829).    A.  siibarquatus. 

Geographical  Range. —  Breeds  in  the  Arctic  regions.  Migrates  through- 
out Europe.  Winters  in  Africa,  India  and  Australia.  Casual  in  Alaska, 
and  accidental  in  Eastern  North  America  and  the  West  Indies.  Acci- 
dental in  East  Patagonia. 

ANCYLOCHILUS  SUBARQUATUS  (Giildenstein). 

Scolopax  subarquata,  Giildenst.  Nov.  Comm.  Petrop.  XIX.  p.  417  (1774). 
Ancylochilus  subarquatus,  Sharpe,  Cat.   Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  592 
(1896;  East  Patagonia). 


AVES CHARADRIID/E  331 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.  —  Total  length,  about  7.4  inches. 

Wing,  5.2  inches. 

Culmen,  1.4  inches. 

Tail,  1.9  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.2  inches. 

Female  birds  average  a  little  smaller  in  size  than  do  the  males. 

Color.  —  Adults  in  the  breeding  season.  General  color  deep  bay  or  cin- 
namon, the  females  not  so  highly  colored  as  are  the  males.  Adult  male 
in  breeding  plumage. 

Head :  Crown  deep  cinnamon,  with  the  dark  centers  to  the  feathers 
showing  much  less  that  on  the  back.  The  sides  of  the  face  are  bright 
cinnamon  chestnut,  with  the  hoary  tips  of  the  winter  plumage  showing 
more  or  less. 

Neck :  Like  the  sides  of  the  face  but  much  more  hoary  on  the  back. 

Back  :  The  general  color  rich  cinnamon  with  dark  centers  to  each 
feather ;  lower  back  dull  ashy  brownish ;  the  upper  tail  coverts  white  with 
tinges  of  cinnamon  and  some  blackish  barring ;  the  rump  is  pure  white 
shading  into  the  ashy  of  the  lower  back. 

Wings :  Coverts  cinnamon  brown  with  whitish  edges ;  the  primary 
coverts  darker ;  the  primaries  dark  brown  with  white  shafts  and  the  sec- 
ondaries fringed  with  white. 

Tail :  Ashy  brown  like  the  lower  back  and  with  white  shafts  and  the 
hoary  fringing  of  the  winter  dress  showing  more  or  less. 

Lower  parts  :  Bright  vinous  cinnamon  back  as  far  as  the  breast  then 
pure  white,  the  sides  being  more  or  less  spotted  with  dusky. 

In  the  winter  plumage  adult  birds  are  dusky  rufous  above  except  on  the 
forehead  ;  the  forehead,  sides  of  the  face  and  head  and  lower  parts  white. 
The  dusky  feathers  of  the  upper  parts  are  much  suffused  with  pale  greyish 
or  hoary  edging. 

Young  birds  of  the  year  in  winter  plumage  are  distinguished  by  the 
lack  of  rufous  or  bay  tinge  to  the  feathers  of  the  upper  parts.  Otherwise 
they  resemble  closely  the  adults  of  the  same  season  of  the  year. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Exact  breeding  point  in  the  Arctic  Regions  un- 
known ;  the  birds  winter  in  Africa,  India  and  Australia.  Accidental  in 
Eastern  North  America,  Alaska  and  the  West  Indies ;  also  in  Eastern 
Patagonia. 


332  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 

The  Curlew  Sandpiper  was  not  taken  or  observed  by  the  naturalists  of 
the  Princeton  Expeditions.  The  only  record  from  that  region  is  a  single 
bird  in  the  British  Museum  collected  by  Sir  W.  Burnett  and  Admiral 
Fitzroy.  The  label  on  this  bird,  which  is  a  female  adult,  is  East  Pata- 
gonia; and  it  would  appear  that  this  nomad  is  of  purely  accidental 
occurrence  in  the  area  under  consideration. 


Genus  GALLINAGO  Leach. 

Type. 

Gallinago,  Leach,  Syst.  Cat.  Mamm.,  etc.,  Brit.  Mus.  p. 
30  (1816);  Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p. 

•  616(1896) ;  Sharpe,  Hand-List  Bds.  I.  p.  165(1899)  G.  major. 

Telmatias,  Boie,  Isis,  1826,  p.  979         .         .         .         .'  G.  stenura. 

Pelorhynchus,  Kaup,  Natiirl.  Syst.  p.  119  (1829)  .         .  G.  gallinago. 

Nemoricola,  Hodgs.  J.  A.  S.  Beng.  VI.  p.  491  (1837)    •  £•  nemoricola, 

Homoptilura,  Gray,  List  Gen.  Bds.  1840,  p.  70     .         .  G.  undulata. 

Xylocota,  Bonap.  C.  R.  XLI.  p.  660  (1855)   .         .         .  G.  jamesoni. 

CoBuocorypha,  Gray,  List  Gen.  Bds.  1855,  p.  19     .  G.  aucklandica. 

Spilura,  Bonap.  C.  R.  XL  III.  p.  579  (1856).         .  G.  solitaria. 

Geographical  Range.  — Almost  cosmopolitan. 


GALLINAGO  PARAGUAY^  (Vieillot). 

Becasina  prima,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  271  (1805). 

Scolopax  paraguaice,  Vieill.  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.   Nat.  III.  p.  356  (1816:  ex 

Azara)  ;  Eraser,  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  P-  I][8  (Chili,  found  in  large  flocks  in 

the  marshes  during  winter)  ;  Hartl.  Ind.  Azara,  p.  24  (1847). 
Scolopax  magellanicus,  King,  Zool.  Journ.  IV.  p.  93  (1828  :   Straits  of 

Magellan). 
Scolopax  (Telmatias]  magellanicus,   Darw.  Voy.   Beagle,  Birds,   p.    131 

(1841  :  Maldonado  :  East  Falklands). 
Scolopax  (Telmatias}  paraguice,  Darw.  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p.  131  (1841  : 

Valparaiso  ;  Maldonado  ;  La  Plata). 
Gallinago  magellanicus,  Gray,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  part  III.  p.  in  (1844: 

Straits  of  Magellan  and  Falkland  Islands) ;  Des  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist. 

Zool.  I.  p.  427  (1847)  ;  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.    1860,  p.  387  (Falkland  Is.)  ; 


FIG.  170. 


Gallinag o  paraguaya.    Adult.     From  a  bird  in  the  British  Museum.    Two  thirds  natural  size. 


AVES CHARADRIID^E  333 

Abbott,  Ibis,  1861,  p.  156  (Falkland  Islands,  Aug.  to  March,  breeds 
end  of  August  and  September)  ;  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  37 
(1868). 

Gallinago  paragiiaycz,  Gray,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  part  III.  p.  in  (1844: 
Valparaiso  ;  Maldonado)  ;  Des  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p. 
426  (1847)  5  Schl.  Mus.  Pays  Bas,  V.  Scolopaces,  p.  1 1  (1864  :  Falk- 
land Islands:  Chili);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1867,  pp.  332,  339  (Chili);  id. 
&  Salv.  Ibis,  1868,  p.  189  (Sandy  Point,  Dec.)  ;  iid.  P.  Z.  S.  1868, 
p.  144  (Conchitas)  ;  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  37  (1868) ;  Scl. 
&  Salvin,  Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  144  (1873)  ;  Durnf.  Ibis,  1877,  p. 
198  (Buenos  Aires,  April  to  August) ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p. 
438  (Puerto  Bueno  :  Falkland  Islands)  ;  iid.  Voy.  Chall.  II.  Birds, 
p.  109  (1881)  ;  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  15  (Cockle  Cove,  Feb.); 
Doering,  Expl.  al  Rio  Negro,  Zool.  p.  56  (1882  :  Rios  Colorado  and 
Negro)  ;  Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  314  (1884  :  Concepcion,  breeds  in  Sept. 
and  Oct.  :  Carhue,  April,  abundant) ;  Gibson,  Ibis,  1885,  p.  282  (Pay- 
sandu)  ;  Philippi,  Ornis,  IV.  p.  160  (1888;  Tilopozo,  Tarapaca); 
Withington,  Ibis,  1888,  p.  472  (Lomas  de  Zamora,  very  abundant, 
breeds) ;  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn.  II.  p.  181  (1889)  ;  Ridgw.  Proc. 
U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  XII.  p.  1 37  ( 1 889 :  Gregory  Bay ;  Laredo  Bay) ;  Heine 
&Reichen.  Nomencl.  Mus.  Hein.  p.  331  (1890:  Chili) ;  Oust.  Miss. 
Scient.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  124,  330  (1891);  Holland,  Ibis, 
1891,  p.  1 6  (Argent.  Rep.);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S.  1891,  p.  137  (Tarapaca); 
Graham  Kerr,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  150  (Fortin  Page,  winter  and  spring) ; 
Holland,  t.  c.  p.  211  (Estancia  Espartilla,  fairly  common  throughout 
the  year);  Aplin,  Ibis,  1894,  pp.  207,  215  (Uruguay);  Lataste,  Actes 
Soc.  Scient.  Chile,  III.  p.  cxv  (1894:  Chilian  Cordilleras);  Sharpe, 
Cat  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV,  p.  650  (1896:  Patagonia  and  Falkland 
Islands);  Lane,  Ibis,  1897,  p.  309  (Sacaya ;  Rio  Bueno);  Carbajal, 
La  Patagonia,  part  II.  p.  273  (1900)  ;  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2) 
XX.  p.  625  (1900  :  Santa  Cruz,  Jan.  :  Gregory  Bay,  April :  Cape  Coil- 
net,  Feb.  :  Skyring  Mt,  Melville  Isl.,  June)  ;  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh. 
Sammelr.  Vog.  p.  15  (1900:  Straits  of  Magellan  and  Falkland 
Islands)  ;  Crawshay,  B.  Tierra  del  Fuego,  p.  126  (1907)  ;  Useless 
Bay  Settlement,  August  31  ;  San  Sebastian  Settlement,  October  30; 
Cheena  Creek  Settlement,  November  17,  1904  (nest  and  eggs 
collected). 


334  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 

Scolopax  frenata,  Burm.  (nee  Licht),  La  Plata  Reise,  II.  p.  503  (1861)  ;  C. 

Burm.   Ann.   Mus.   Nac.   Buenos  Aires,  III.   part  X.  p.  246  (1888: 

Patagonia)  ;  Carbajal,  La  Patagonia,  part  II.  173  (1900). 
Gallinago  frenata,  Durnf.  (nee.  Licht.)  Ibis,  1876,  p.  164  (Buenos  Aires, 

Oct.  ?  breeding). 
Scolopax  frenata  magellanica,  Seebohm,  Geogr.  Distr.   Charadr.  p.  496 

(1888). 

Scolopax  frenata  chilensis,  Seebohm,  t.  c.  p.  496. 
Gallinago  paraguayce  chilensis,  Schalow,  Zool.  Jahrb.  Suppl.  IV.  p.  66 1 

(1898:  La  Serena,  Oct.;  Punta  Arenas,  Feb.). 
Gallinago  paraguayce  magellanicus,  Schalow,  t.  c.  p.  66 1  (Seno  Almiran- 

tazgo,  Tierra  del  Fuego,  Jan.;  Buschuwaria,  Beagle  Canal,  March). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  male. 

Total  length,  about  n  inches. 

Wing,  5  inches. 

Oilmen,  2.6  inches. 

Tail,  2  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.25  inch. 

The  adult  female  is  usually  larger  than  the  adult  male.  Adult  female. 
(P.  U.  O.  C.  7795,  near  head  of  Rio  Mayer,  Patagonia,  8  March,  1897. 
J.  B.  Hatcher.)  Total  length,  about  n.8  inches. 

Wing,  5.3  inches. 

Culmen,  2.8  inches. 

Tail,  2.25  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.25  inch. 

Color. — Adult  female  (cited).  General  color  above  black  mottled  and 
decorated  with  creamy  and  sandy  buff.  Below,  creamy  buff  marked  and 
decorated  with  blackish,  until  the  chest  is  reached,  thence  white  or  buff 
white,  plain  on  the  lower  breast  and  abdomen  and  barred  on  the  sides 
and  flanks  with  blackish. 

Head:  Crown.  A  median  narrow  line  of  sandy  cream  color.  A  broad 
black  or  blackish  brown  band  running  parallel  to  the  median  creamy  line 
on  each  side.  These  dark  bands  defined  on  their  outer  edges  by  a  sandy 
cream  eyebrow  streak.  This  streak  runs  to  the  bill  and  is  defined  in  the 
loral  region  by  a  broad  blackish  brown  streak  running  back  to  the  eye 


AVES CHARADRIID^E  335 

and  from  behind  it  to  the  upper  ear  coverts.  Below  this  band,  beginning 
at  the  base  of  the  lower  mandible  is  another  sandy  cream  colored  band, 
which  becomes  defined  below  the  eye  by  a  blackish  brown  band  across 
the  lower  auricular  region. 

Neck:  All  clear  sandy  cream,  unmarked  on  the  chin,  and  with  a 
streaked  and  mottled  appearance  elsewhere,  each  feather  having  a  blackish 
brown  median  area  varying  somewhat  in  shape  and  extent  on  the  different 
parts  of  the  neck. 

Back :  Outer  scapular  region  black  or  deep  velvety  blackish  brown, 
the  feathers  marked  and  notched  with  rusty.  The  back  is  further  deco-- 
rated  by  two  broad  lines  of  creamy  buff,  formed  by  the  broad  edging  of 
the  scapulars  in  that  color.  The  scapulars  are  black  otherwise,  dotted, 
notched,  and  in  parts  almost  barred  wiih  rusty.  Lower  back  dusky,  the 
feathers  inclined  to  be  filamentous,  and  being  fringed  with  isabelline, 
cream  buff  and  sandy,  has  a  barred  or  mottled  appearance.  Upper 
tail  coverts,  rusty,  narrowly  barred  in  arrow  shape  with  blackish,  leav- 
ing rusty  areas  at  least  four  times  as  wide  as  the  dusky  bars.  Termi- 
nally the  upper  tail  coverts  are  creamy  or  isabelline.  Tail  of  sixteen 
feathers,  black  at  the  base,  then  becoming  broadly  rusty  red  with  an  arrow- 
shaped  subterminal  bar  of  black,  the  rusty  after  this  subterminal  black  bar 
shading  into  creamy  buff,  almost  white  tipping  each  feather.  The  feathers 
gradually  become  lighter  in  color  and  more  barred  toward  the  outer  sets, 

FIG.  171. 


Galinago  paraguay a.     Showing  tail  pattern.     From  a  bird  in  the  British  Museum.  Natural  size. 


33^  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY 

until  the  outermost  rectrix  is  almost  white  with  five  distinct  dttsky  bars. 
The  outermost  feathers  are  narrow  or  lanceolate  as  compared  with  the 
same  feathers  in  G.  delicata  which  in  a  general  way  this  species  closely 
resembles. 

Wings :  Upper  coverts  blackish  brown,  the  marginal  ones  uniform,  the 
median  and  greater  series  spotted  by  the  whitish  tips  of  each  feather. 
Bastard  wing  and  primaries  blackish  with  five  white  tips. 

Quills :  Outer  web,  of  first  primary  white  or  greyish  white.  Other- 
wise the  quills  are  dusky  or  blackish,  the  secondaries  being  conspicuously 
tipped  with  white,  and  the  first  secondaries  do  not  exceed  the  longest  pri- 
mary coverts  in  length.  The  innermost  secondaries  are  barred  black  and 
rusty  cream  buff  like  the  longer  scapulars  in  general  effect. 

Lower  parts :  Chin  deep  creamy  buff,  and  unmarked.  The  whole 
under  neck  similar  in  tone  but  streaked  and  mottled  and  almost  barred  in 
appearance  by  the  irregular  dark  brown  or  blackish  areas  on  each  feather. 
From  the  lower  breast  back  the  ground  color  is  white  plain  medianly  and 
heavily  barred  with  blackish  on  the  sides  and  flanks.  Under  tail  coverts 
washed  with  pale  creamy  buff  and  barred  with  blackish,  somewhat  irregu- 
larly. Under  wing  coverts,  whitish  barred  with  dusky,  the  primary  series 
greyish  with  white  tips.  Axillaries,  regularly  barred  black  and  white,  the 
white  bars  a  little  the  wider. 

Bill :  Olive  brown,  darker  at  the  tip,  and  shading  to  green  yellow  at 
the  base. 

Feet  and  legs,  olive  brown. 

Iris,  dark  hazel. 

671,  672,  females,  Puerto  Bueno. 

"Eyes  brown,  feet  bluish;  in  No.  672  the  feet  are  yellowish." 

729,  male ;  730,  female,  Falkland  Islands. 

"Eyes  brown;  stomachs  had  worms,  etc." 

(Sclater  &  Salvin,  on  Birds  Antarctic  America,  Voy.  H.  M.  S.  "Chall." 
—  No.  IX.  p.  438,  1878.) 

The  sexes  do  not  vary  in  appearance,  but  winter  birds  are  suffused  and 
the  markings  are  not  so  clearly  defined. 

Young  birds  of  the  year  are  more  rusty  in  general  tone,  especially  on 
the  throat,  breast  and  back. 

There  is  a  wide  individual  difference  in  the  Patagonian  Snipe  but  the 
material  is  not  sufficient  to  generalize  upon,  though  a  correlation  of  two 


AVES CHARADRIID^E  337 

extremes  in  pale  and  dark  Snipes  of  this  species  with  the  arid  and  damp 
regions  of  Argentina  seems  likely. 


Geographical  Range. — South  America,  from  Para  southward  to  Pata- 
gonia and  the  Falkland  Islands.  Also  Bolivia  and  Chili  from  Tarapaca 
to  the  Straits  of  Magellan.  Breeding  probably  throughout  its  range. 


The  naturalists  of  the  Princeton  Expeditions  found  this  Snipe  at  all 
points  which  they  visited.  Mr.  J.  B.  Hatcher  has  given  the  following  MSS. 
notes:  "The  Patagonian  Jack  Snipe  is  common  in  the  tall  grass  about 
streams  and  ponds  and  has  the  same  general  habits  as  the  Jack  Snipes 
of  other  countries.  It  is  distributed  all  over  the  Patagonian  plains  and 
in  the  marshes  and  along  the  streams  of  the  lower  Andes." 

"  Extremely  plenty  at  Concepcion  during  the  cold  weather  ;  less  so  in 
summer,  but  many  remain  to  breed.  A  set  of  three  eggs  was  taken  Sep- 
tember 1 6,  1880,  and  two  eggs  from  another  nest  on  October  12.  Both 
nests  were  slight  hollows  in  the  ground,  with  a  few  bits  of  straw  and  grass 
for  lining.  The  eggs  are  as  much  like  those  of  G.  "wilsoni  as  are  the  birds 
themselves  ;  that  is  to  say  very  similar  indeed.  During  the  winter  the 
Snipe  collected  in  some  of  the  marshes  to  the  number  of  thousands,  and 
often  twenty  or  thirty  would  rise  at  the  report  of  the  gun  and  circle  about 
in  a  loose  flock  before  settling  again.  •  They  were  abundant  in  Carhue 
early  in  April."  (Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  314.  July,  1884.) 

"  Resident  apparently,  though  much  more  common  at  some  seasons 
than  others.  The  comparative  abundance  probably  depends  upon  the  rain- 
fall. In  the  latter  half  of  October  they  were  common  along  marshy  canadas 
and  similar  places  on  the  Saiice.  They  were  evidently  there  for  breeding 
purposes,  as  they  were  tame,  often  gave  you  a  view  of  them  on  the  ground, 
were  constantly  '  drumming  '  in  the  air,  and  on  the  ground  uttering  a  note 
like  chnttuk.  The  females  (?)  cried  '  chiittuk'  or  ' chuk-ch^lk-ch^tk '  on 
rising.  The  sound  of  the  drumming  differs  from  that  produced  by  the 
English  Snipe  ;  it  is  a  long  shaking  kurrrrrr  (the  sound  can  be  reproduced 
to  some  extent  in  the  back  of  the  human  throat)  ;  sometimes  it  varies  to 
a  deep  low-noted  hollow  gtirrrrr,  and,  like  our  bird's  drum,  is  audible  at 
a  considerable  distance. 


338  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  :     ZOOLOGY 

"  The  Snipe,  when  drumming,  is  said  to  be  calling  for  water,  but  I  for- 
get the  exact  name  used  for  the  bird.  I  often  searched  for  the  nest  among 
the  tall  grass  and  herbage  on  the  boggy  banks  of  canadas  where  I  flushed 
Snipe,  without  success,  but  on  the  23d  November,  when  galloping  home 
with  a  companion  through  some  low  paja  near  the  Sauce  on  Sta.  Ade- 
laida,  a  Snipe  fluttered  from  under  my  horse's  feet;  this  was  thirty  yards 
at  least  from  the  river  and  quite  dry  ground.  The  nest  was  in  a  tuft  of 
paja,  formed  of  a  few  grass-blades,  and  contained  two  fresh  eggs.  By 
Christmas  all,  or  nearly  all,  the  Snipe  had  disappeared  from  the  neighbor- 
hood, the  country  having  become  excessively  dry.  A  very  few  put  in  an 
appearance  about  the  end  of  February  and  early  in  March,  but  it  was  not 
until  early  April  (after  a  heavy  rain-storm)  that  we  saw  any  great  number. 
All  through  that  month  and  in  May  they  were  rather  numerous,  although 
more  plentiful  on  some  days  than  others.  Their  habits  at  that  season 
almost  exactly  resembled  those  of  our  bird.  The  cry  on  rising  was  '  quirk, 
queak,'  or  '  quir-eak! 

"It  seems  just  possible  that  some  of  these  Snipes  which  visited  us  in 
autumn  may  have  bred  at  that  season.  At  all  events  I  noticed  that  in 
May,  while  most  of  the  birds  remained  more  or  less  wild,  as  autumn  Snipe 
are,  some  were  tame  and  behaved  exactly  as  others  did  in  the  spring. 
In  the  early  part  of  May  we  had  some  very  fine  warm  weather,  and  it  was 
on  the  ist  of  that  month  that  I  first  noticed  Snipe  drumming  in  the  autumn 
just  as  they  did  in  spring;  I  observed  this  during  the  day  as  well  as  at 
sundown  for  a  fortnight  afterwards,  but  in  the  cold  period  which  followed 
I  did  not  notice  them,  and  I  left  about  the  end  of  the  month.  In  the  first 
week  I  saw  two  or  three  supposed  pairs,  and  on  the  8th  I  observed  one 
pair  especially,  where  the  Sauce  ran  swiftly  through  low  green  banks, 
sheltered  by  higher  banks,  tall  paja,  &c.,  and  was  studded  with  green 
islets.  The  pair,  on  being  disturbed,  settled  on  the  short  green  turf  in 
full  view,  the  male  rising  again,  but  the  female  remaining  on  the  ground 
uttering  a  loud  chuk  chuk  chuk  continuously  (rather  like  the  alarm-call 
of  a  hen  Partridge  which  has  small  young  in  the  grass)  for  some  time, 
then  rose  and  flew  a  few  yards  with  upraised  wings,  and,  alighting  again, 
continued  calling.  When  on  the  wing  her  note  was  a  rapid  tuka  tuka. 
Meanwhile  the  male  was  drumming  loudly  overhead.  I  could  also  that 
afternoon  (had  I  been  so  inclined)  have  shot  a  few  other  Snipe  on  the 
ground,  but  at  the  same  time  the  rest  of  the  birds  seen  (a  considerable 


FIG.  172. 


\ 
Gallinago  stricklandi.     Adult.     From  a  bird  in  the  British  Museum.     Two  thirds  natural  size. 


AVES CHARADRIID/E  339 

number)  had  their  winter  habits  and  were  rather  wild."  (O.  V.  Alpin, 
on  Birds  Uruguay,  Ibis,  pp.  207-208,  1894.) 

"Winter  and  resident  game  birds  are  uncommonly  plentiful  this  season, 
affording  me  a  good  opportunity  for  securing  specimens  and  observing 
their  habits.  As  I  am  fond  of  gunning,  the  Duck  and  Snipe  families  are 
favorites.  Of  the  Scolopacidce  I  am  acquainted  with  twenty  species. 
Seventeen  of  these  are  well  known  to  naturalists,  or  at  least  have  had 
their  affinities  determined ;  but  before  writing  much  about  them  I  should 
like  to  become  more  familiar  with  some  of  their  habits,  especially  the 
times  of  their  arrival  and  departure,  also  the  nidification  of  the  resident 
species.  The  other  three  are  perhaps  not  known,  or  are  not  considered 
natives  of  this  region.  I  have  formerly  shot,  but  never  preserved,  speci- 
mens of  two  of  them.  But  I  will  say  no  more  at  present  about  these 
birds,  as  memory  is  not  a  faithful  guide  in  such  matters,  and  some  favor- 
able chance  may  bring  them  in  my  way  again."  (Hudson,  P.  Z.  S.  1870, 
p.  799.) 

Examples  of  Gallinago  paragnayce  have  been  received  by  the  British 
Museum  from  Lake  Blanco,  Chubut,  collected  by  J.  Koslowsky  in  Sep- 
tember, October  and  November.  The  birds  appear  to  be  adult,  the  bill, 
however,  varying  from  2.45  to  3.00  inches  in  length. 

GALLINAGO  STRICKLANDI  (Gray). 

Gallinago  stricklandi,  Gray,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  Part  III,  p.  112  (1844  : 
Hermit  Isl.) ;  Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  144  (Patagonia);  iid. 
Nomencl.  Av.  Neotr.  p.  145  (1873  :  Chili  &  Patagonia)  ;  Sharpe,  P. 
Z.  S.  1 88 1,  p.  15  (Swallow  Bay,  March)  ;  Oust.  Miss.  Scient.  Cap 
Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  293,  330  (1891)  ;  James,  New  List  Chil.  B.  p.  12 
(1892) ;  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  660  (1896) ;  Lane,  Ibis, 
1897,  P-  310  (Tarapaca) ;  Sharpe,  Hand-list  B.  I.  p.  166(1899); 
Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Genov.  (2)  XX.  p.  625  (1900:  Punta  Arenas, 
May)  ;  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr.  Vog.  15  (1900:  Straits  of 
Magellan). 

Scolopax  stricklandi,  Gray,  Erebus  &  Terror,  Birds,  pi.  23  (1846) ;  Sharpe, 
t.  c.  App.  p.  37  (1875);  Seebohm,  Ibis,  1886,  p.  130;  id.  Geogr. 
Distr.  Charadr.  p.  448  (1888). 

Scolopax  meridionalis,  Peale,  U.  S.  Expl.  Exped.  Birds,  p.  229  (1848: 
Orange  Bay). 


34°  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY. 

Telmatias  stricklandi,  Reichenb.  Grail,  tab.  LXX.  fig.  998  (1850). 
Scolopax  spectabilis,  Hartl.  Naum.  1853,  p.  216  (Valdivia). 
Xylocota  stricklandi,  Bp.  C.  R.  XLIII.  p.  579  (1856). 
Gallinago  paludosa,  Scl.   (nee  Gm.),  P.  Z.  S.   1867,  pp.  332,  339  (Chili). 
Gallinago  nobilis,  Oust,  (nee  Scl.),  Miss.  Scient.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp. 
126,  330  (1891  :  Orange  Bay). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size.  — Adult  male.     Total  length,  about  14  inches. 

Wing,  6  inches. 

Culmen,  3.35  inches. 

Tail,  2.4  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.4  inch. 

Adult  female.     Total  length,  about  14.5  inches. 

FIG.  173. 


Gallinago  stricklandi.  Showing  the  pattern  of  the  barring  of  the  tail  feathers.  From  a  bird  in 
the  British  Museum.  Two  thirds  natural  size. 

Wing,  6.1  inches. 

Culmen,  3.3  inches. 

Tail,  2.4  inches. 

Tarsus,  1.3  inch. 

Color.  —  Adult  male.  Pale  tawny  in  general  tone,  with  the  conven- 
tional snipe  marking  on  the  head  and  back. 

Head :  Marked  much  as  in  G.  paraguayce  but  more  tawny  in  general 
tone  and  the  striping  of  the  head  tawny  buff. 


AVES CHARADRIID^;  341 

Neck:  Tawny  buff  above  and  below,  palest  and  unmarked  on  the 
chin  ;  mottled  and  brokenly  or  irregularly  barred  elsewhere. 

Back :  Of  the  characteristic  snipe  pattern  but  the  light  streaks  along 
the  scapulars  and  the  sides  of  the  back  not  well  defined,  though  apparent. 

Tail :  Normally  of  sixteen  feathers,  but  often  having  only  fourteen. 
Regtilarly  barred  black  and  mifous.  The  rufous  of  a  dull  tone  and  the 
black  bars  wider  than  the  rufous  ones. 

Wing :  Primary  coverts  plain  brown,  with  fringing  and  slight  mark- 
ings of  sandy  buff  at  their  tips.  Primaries  plain  brown.  The  exposed 
outer  web  of  the  first  primary  brown  with  regular  indentations  of  sandy 
buff,  giving  this  part  of  the  feather  a  chequered  appearance.  The  sec- 
ondary quills  barred  rufous  and  black,  the  rufous  bars  being  the  wider. 
The  inner  greater  wing  coverts  are  barred  in  a  similar  manner  externally. 

Lower  parts :  Under  surface  of  the  body  sandy  buff,  palest  on  the  chin, 
mottled  and  irregularly  barred  on  the  neck  and  breast,  in  the  character- 
istic way.  The  abdomen  clear  sandy  buff  and  the  sides,  flanks  and  under 
tail  coverts  barred  with  black  or  blackish.  The  under  wing  coverts  and 
axillaries  sandy  buff  barred  with  dark  brown,  the  brown  bars  being  wider. 

The  sexes  are  alike  in  appearance. 

"  Feet  greyish  yellow."     (Dr.  Coppinger.) 

"Female:  Swallow  Bay,  March  14,  1880.  Eyes  dark;  legs  and  feet 
greyish  yellow.  Weight  9  oz."  (Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  15.) 

Geographical  Distribution.  —  Extreme  southern  South  America,  Tierra 
del  Fuego  and  the  region  about  the  Straits  of  Magellan. 

This  snipe  was  not  observed  or  collected  by  the  naturalists  of  the 
Princeton  Expeditions.  The  description  given  is  based  on  the  material 
in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History. 


Genus  ROSTRATULA  Vieillot. 

Type. 

Rostratula,  Vieill.  Analyse,  p.  56  (1816)  ;  Sharpe,  Cat.  Bds. 

Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  683  (1896)  ;  id.,  Hand-list  Bds. 

I.  p.  167(1899) R.  capensis. 

Rhynchcea,  Cuv.  Regne,  Anim.  I,  p.  487  (1817)          .         .     R.  capensis. 


342  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS:     ZOOLOGY 

Geographical  Range.  —  Ethiopian,  Indian  and  Australian  Regions,  rang- 
ing into  China  and  Japan.     Southern  portion  of  the  Neotropical  Region. 


ROSTRATULA   SEMICOLLARIS    (Vieillot). 

Chorlito  golas  obscura  y  blanca,  Azara,  Apunt.  III.  p.  323  (1805). 

Chorlito  cabeza  y  cuello  obscuros,  Azara,  t.  c.  p.  325. 

Totanus  semicollaris,  Vieill.  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  VI.  p.  402  (1816;  ex 

Azara,  III.  p.  323). 
Tringa  atricapilla,   Vieill.  op.  cit.  XXXIV.  p.  474  (1819:  ex  Azara,  III. 

P-  325)- 
Rhynchcea  occidentalis,    King,   Zool.  Journ.  IV.   p.  94  (1828:  Straits  of 

Magellan). 

Rhynchcea  semicollaris,  Darwin,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  p.  131  (1841  :  Rio 
Plata:  Montevideo);  Frazer,  P.  Z.  S.  1843,  p.  118  (Chili);  Gray, 
List  B.  Brit.  Mus.  part  III.  p.  109  (1844:  Chili)  ;  Hartl.  Ind.  p.  25 
(1847)  :  Des  Murs  in  Gay's  Hist.  Chil.  Zool.  I.  p.  429  (1847)  I  Schl. 
Mus.  Pays  Bas,  V.  Scolopaces,  p.  18  (1864:  Chili);  Scl.  P.  Z.  S. 
1867,  p.  339  (Chili)  ;  Phil.  &  Landb.  Cat.  Av.  Chil.  p.  37  (1868)  ; 
Scl.  &  Salv.  P.  Z.  S.  1868,  p.  144  (Conchitas)  ;  iid.  Nomencl.  Av. 
Neotr.  p.  145  (1873:  Patagonia)  ;  Durnf.  Ibis,  1876,  p.  164  (Buenos 
Aires,  breeding  in  Sept.  and  Oct.)  ;  1877,  p.  42  (Chupat  Valley,  Nov. 
rare),  p.  199  (Buenos  Aires,  resident),  1878,  p.  403  (Chupat  Valley) ; 
Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  16  (Coquimbo,  June)  ;  Salvin,  Cat.  Strickl. 
Coll.  p.  608  (1882  :  Valparaiso)  ;  id.  P.  Z.  S.  1883,  p.  429  (Chili)  ; 
Barrows,  Auk,  I.  p.  314  (1884:  Concepcion,  abundant  resident,  breeds 
in  Sept.)  ;  Tacz.  Orn.  Perou.  III.  p.  378  (1886)  ;  Berl.  J.  f.  O.  1887, 
p.  126  (Paraguay) ;  Seebohm,  Geogr.  Distr.  Charadr.  p.  459,  pi.  XIX. 
(1888)  ;  Withington,  Ibis,  1888,  p.  472  (Lomas  de  Zamora,  abundant 
in  the  marshes,  not  observed  breeding) ;  Scl.  &  Huds.  Argent.  Orn. 
II.  p.  182  (1889)  ;  Oust.  Miss.  Scient.  Cap  Horn,  Oiseaux,  pp.  293, 
330  (1891)  ;  Holland,  Ibis,  1891,  pp.  16,  20;  James,  New  List  Chil. 
B.  p.  12  (1892);  Holland,  Ibis,  1892,  p.  211  (Estancia  Espartilla, 
fairly  common  throughout  the  year,  breeds  in  Nov.)  ;  Lane,  Ibis, 
1897,  P-  3IQ  (Orauco). 

Rhynchcea  hilairea,  Licht.  Nomencl.  Av.  Mus.  Berol.  p.  93  (1854: 
Montevideo). 


FIG.   174. 


•. 


Rostratula  semicollaris.     Adult.     From  a  bird  in  the  British  Museum.     Natural  size. 


AVES CHARADRIID^E  343 

Rhynchcea  hilarii,  Burm.  La  Plata  Reise,  II.  p.  504  (1861  :  Rio  Parana) ; 

C.  Burm.  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  III.  part  X.  p.  246  (1888: 

Patagonia);  Carabajal,  La  Patagonia,  part  II.  p.  273  (1900). 
Rostratula  semicollaris,  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.  XXIV.  p.  690  (1896)  ; 

id.  Hand-list  B.  I.  p.  167  (1899);  Martens,  Hamb.  Magalh.  Sammelr. 

Vog.  p.  15  (1900:  Patagonia). 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Size. — Adult  male.  P.  U.  O.  C.  8809.  Ensenada,  Argentine  Republic 
April,  1896.  S.  Pozzi. 

Total  length,  8  inches. 

Wing,  4.1  inches. 

Culmen,  1.55  inch. 

Tail,  1.9  inch. 

Tarsus,  1.45  inch. 

The  sexes  do  not  vary  appreciably  in  size  nor  does  there  seem  a  wide 
range  of  individual  variation  in  this  respect. 

Color. — General  color  dark  sooty  brown  above;  below  dark  sooty 
brown  back  as  far  as  the  chest,  from  there  back  pure  white. 

Head  :  A  broad  buffy  median  stripe  reaching  from  the  bill  to  the  oc- 
ciput, defined  on  each  side  by  a  much  broader  black  stripe.  These  black 
stripes  are  denned  on  their  outer  borders  by  a  narrow  creamy  whitish 
eyebrow  line,  which  in  many  individuals  is  not  continuous.  A  very  nar- 
row buff  eye  ring.  Sides  of  head  and  face  dark  sooty  brown. 

Neck :  Throughout  uniform  dark  sooty  brown. 

Back:  Dark  sooty  brown,  vermiculated  with  grey  and  blackish  on  the 
upper  back  and  scapulars.  The  scapulars  also  have  subterminal  blotches 
or  markings  of  black,  and  a  deep  bronzy  chestnut  bar  at  the  end  of  each 
feather,  this  bar  being  darkest  near  the  tip  of  the  feather,  the  extreme  tip 
narrowly  fringed  with  silvery  white.  Some  of  the  scapulars  have  the  ex- 
ternal webs  tawny  buff,  which  together  form  a  broad  streak  defining  each 
side  of  the  back.  Lower  back  shading  into  lighter  earthy  brown  which 
extends  over  the  rump  and  becomes  more  sandy  or  rufous  on  the  upper 
tail  coverts.  The  whole  of  these  areas  crossed  by  obscure  dusky  lines, 
which  are  most  distinct  on  the  upper  tail  coverts. 

Tail :  Rectrices  pale  buff  broken  by  many  narrow  dusky  cross  bars. 

Wings:  Wing   coverts    blackish    brown    with    sandy    edgings.      The 


344  PATAGONIAN    EXPEDITIONS  I     ZOOLOGY 

median  and  greater  series  decorated  with  large  moon-shaped  spots  of 
silvery  white.  Parapteral  feathers  short,  black  at  the  base  and  broadly 
tipped  with  silvery  white,  forming  together  a  conspicuous  shoulder  patch. 
Bastard  wing  and  primary  coverts  blackish  brown,  decorated  with  rounded 
spots  of  silvery  white  on  their  outer  webs,  and  bars  of  silvery  white  on 
the  inner  ones.  Primary  quills  blackish,  decorated  with  silvery  white 
round  spots  on  the  outer  webs  and  bars  of  white  on  the  inner  web,  which 
do  not  generally  reach  the  shaft  of  the  feather.  The  outer  secondaries 
are  similarly  decorated,  but  lighter  in  body  tone,  and  all  the  quills  are 
margined  with  white  at  the  ends.  The  innermost  secondaries  are  much 
like  the  scapulars  in  appearance. 

Lower  parts :  Entirely  deep  sooty  brown  back  to  the  chest,  where  the 
demarkation  is  abrupt  and  defined  sharply,  changing  to  an  almost  white 
coloring  which  prevails  over  the  rest  of  the  lower  parts.  On  each  side  of 
the  chest  in  the  dark  area  a  large  spot  of  silvery  white  is  conspicuous. 
Lower  breast  and  abdomen  pure  white.  Sides  of  the  body  sandy  buff 
with  some  obsolete  dusky  barring  and  freckling.  Under  tail  coverts  sandy 
buff.  Axillaries  white.  Under  wing  coverts  white  with  a  few  black 
marks  or  bars.  Quills  dusky  grey  below,  showing  the  white  barring  of 
the  inner  webs. 

Iris :  Dark  brown  (S.  Pozzi). 

The  sexes  do  not  differ  in  appearance. 

Young  fully  grown  differ  from  the  adults  in  being  paler  brown,  in  hav- 
ing white  fringing  to  the  feathers  of  the  throat,  and  in  having  the  silvery 
white  markings  on  the  wing  coverts  replaced  by  similar  tawny  buff 
decorations. 

Geographical  Range.  —  Peru,  Chili,  Uruguay,  Argentina  and  Patagonia 
to  the  Straits  of  Magellan. 


This  curious  Snipe  was  not  procured  by  the  naturalists  of  the  Prince- 
ton Expeditions,  but  has  been  obtained  at  many  points  in  Patagonia. 
The  material  in  the  British  Museum  of  Natural  History  and  the  small 
series  in  the  Princeton  Museum  form  the  basis  for  the  description  given. 

Mr.  Barrows  in  his  admirable  "Birds  of  the  Lower  Uruguay"  writes 
of  this  bird : 


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